Commercial Cross Country

Tholl · Post by **Tholl** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:56 pm

Heading down to Chicago on thursday for my X-Country! Just wondering what kinda advice you can give me to make it the best trip ever! It's pretty long and I'm doing one leg at night. Hopefully everything will go smoothly! Any attractions or stops that are a MUST along the way. We are stopping at KMSP on the way for a few hours. Any advice is apprecated!
-Tholl

Isis · Post by **Isis** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:05 pm

A buddy of mine did his commercial down to Chicago. He had an awesome time... wish you blue skies and a smooth flight.

One point of advice for ya, if you get flight following, the american ATC aren't as curteous as ours. Even though you have flight following you are still expected to update Flight Services. They act as two completley seperate companies - even though they're in the same building.

Otherwise, have a blast, and be sure to let us know how it goes.

- Isis

Tholl · Post by **Tholl** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:08 pm

Heck ya, complete footage will be taken and posted in the end. I won't be able to sleep untill then...IM SO PUMPED!

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:10 pm

If you havent flown to the states before remember, Tower doesnt open ur flight plan or close it like they do in Canada, you have to do that on your own, so dont forget to do it!

I find that the controllers over in Cleveland centre are very helpful and pleasure to deal with, was gonna go to Chicago but didnt. hear O'Hare controllers are super cool and helpful, if you can afford the landing fees why not land at the second busiest airport in the world.

Good luck!

No Conflict · Post by **No Conflict** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:23 am

Hey Tholl, the a/c you've got in the picture there isn't QYI by any chance, is it?

NC

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:32 am

You also need to close your flight plan within 30 minutes (not 60 as it is up here) of your ETA, otherwise they'll start to look for you.

It might be worthwhile to get a little familiar with all the ATC services you have available to you - Flight Watch, etc. They can be very useful.

And you may be called "Canadian G-ABC" by some controllers when you check in as "Cherokee CG-ABC" for example, or even "Canadian ABC". Slightly amusing as you pass from sector to sector because you'll be called something different by every controller... Keep the radio calls as brief as possible and expect likewise - they seem to be less "chatty" than Canadian controllers.

Have fun!!

inthomerker · Post by **inthomerker** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:47 am

Tholl, I did mine from moncton to daytona beach about 6-7 months ago. While on with flight following be prepared to copy frequency / transponder changes a lot quicker than north of the boarder - i remember getting switched about every 15-20 minutes.
Have fun bro!

whipline · Post by **whipline** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 6:19 am

Where are you leaving from? The best places to party that I have found, you'll have to take my word for it is northern Quebec. I remeber playing pool in Val'dor while on a 6 hr stop and having women sending drinks over by the tray full. I litterally wanted to run back to the airport and take a crash axe to the hydraulic lines.

I'm sure wherever you pick you will have a great time, but you might want to think about heading north instead of south.

Cheers

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 6:33 am

yea thats a good point, I always make my radio calls with "Canadian" so they know who Im representin down there

If you forget to close ur flight plan but ordered fuel then its already done automatically upon getting fuel. I know I didnt get that one either . In the states they also have a security briefing you need to listen to prior to filing.

And the best advice anyone can give you, if you want to have a good trip, avoid KDET! And make sure you bring plenty of american dollars because customs has refused entry to people even with 4 credit cards.

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:51 am

Open your flight plan with the call sign "Beaver Toucher"

Tholl · Post by **Tholl** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:56 am

Thanks guys....lol
Im leaving from CYAV thursday morning, off to 48y, to KMSP to KORD or KMDW, that is still up in the air. Im convinced that ORD will be insane as 1% of their traffic is single VFR...haha! But there is all sorts of wicked stuff like FREE jag courtesy cars with purchase of fuel

Any more suggestions will help. Thanks
-Tholl

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:17 am

If you are looking to get a nice courtesy car then you should wear a shirt and tie and dress pants maybe a leather jacket. Some FBOs wont even look at giving you a car if you are not well dressed, which makes it a hard thing to do in the winter and still be able to be comftable.

niko · Post by **niko** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:30 am

At KMDW, you can get a ride with the FBO to the main terminal and you can ride the "L" to downtown Chicago.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:52 am

whipline wrote:Where are you leaving from? The best places to party that I have found, you'll have to take my word for it is northern Quebec. I remeber playing pool in Val'dor while on a 6 hr stop and having women sending drinks over by the tray full. I litterally wanted to run back to the airport and take a crash axe to the hydraulic lines.

I'm sure wherever you pick you will have a great time, but you might want to think about heading north instead of south.

Cheers

you liked it that much eh?

flyinhigh · Post by **flyinhigh** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:28 pm

Hey tholl,
I as well did a cross country about 5 years ago down to KMSP out of YAV.
Didn't plan it out very well as there was only about 30 minute notice that we were going to go there but it was the time of my life, there was 5 others that came along as well, we had to 172's, landed at MSP, WOW a 172 beside a DC-10 and 747 is actually kinda funny.
Anyway have fun, you'll never forget this trip.

runawayprop · Post by **runawayprop** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 6:18 pm

Can't add anything to help you, but good luck and have fun!

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 6:56 pm

bizjet_mania wrote: And the best advice anyone can give you, if you want to have a good trip, avoid KDET!

OH MAN! You are so right on that one. I went there, and it was the scariest airport I've ever seen. It's on the wrong side of the tracks...WAAAAAYYYY on the wrong side.

I cleared customs there, and the agent drove from Detroit Metro (the main international airport). They had a room with nothing but a desk in it. The customs agent told me they couldn't keep anything in there since it kept getting stollen. They had a tower, but no traffic. The fuel was an automated self serve station, with not a sole in sight, excpet for the tower dude at the other end of the field. I was scared that someone was going to run out from between the many abandoned warehouses and murder me. On take off, I got a good look at the streets and neighbourhoods around there, and it appeared to be a place you wouldn't choose to drive through unless you were armed.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:09 pm

yea pretty deserted. All I saw was a cop driving around and watching to make sure we were ok. All the business jets that flew in there, dropped off their passengers and got the hell out of there. Nothing like flying the last 1/2 mile of your approach over a graveyard! LOL!

Cool Rythms! · Post by **Cool Rythms!** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:26 pm

Hi Tholl,

As a former flight instructor, I would have to support what bizjet_mania said about the opening and closing of your flight plans. Most importantly, don't forget to close them! The americans can really get on your back about that. If you're used to flying in Canada, it can be very easy to forget this. So give yourself as many reminders as you need to open and close your flight plans.

Also, once you cross the border, you'll notice that there are more VOR's than you can count. Use them, especially at night, but don't be lazy and become too dependent on them. Stick to the basics that your instructor taught you.

Keep a sharp lookout for traffic at all times. In the U.S. everyone and their mom, dad, brother and sister has a license and you'll rarely go for more than 10 minutes without seeing another aircraft somewhere.

Check that all your required aircraft documentation is on hand and up to date. You may be asked to present them.

Other than that, have a blast and be safe.

mculshaw · Post by **mculshaw** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:21 am

Port Huron is a good/easy place to clear customs.
It is open 24/7 give them a heads up that you are on your way.

Why not do the whole flight at night too!?
I flew that route CYFD to KPHN to KPWK
Palwaukee just north of O'Hare.

Nice little airport. Turbines EVERYWHERE. KingAirs to G5's

The North American Jet FBO was a great place.
Stay away from Signature!

Tholl · Post by **Tholl** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:50 am

Why stay away from Signature?!
-Tholl

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:28 am

Make sure you get a transponder code prior to entering US Airspace, best way to get one is to use flight following. If you dont want to I think there is a phone number you can call to get one.

Signature from my experience can be an expensive place, and depending where you go the people are not too friendly. But I hear people in Chicago are alot nicer compared to alot of other major cities in the States.

Oh and try to call the FBO in Chicago and tell them you are planning a trip and expect to be there the next day, and ask about the courtesy car. Try to get there as early as possible because I do believe it is first come first serve.
Sometimes they are really busy at the big airports and if you just show up especially from Canada they may get annoyed, especially if you're overnighting. So just give them a heads up!
(A/C Ident, Type, # of PAX, Time of Arrival and they may want to know the colours) Its also a good time to find out how much they charge for fuel, ramp fee, security fee, and they should be able to tell you the landing fee. The more prepared you are, the better of a trip you will have.

W/E you do, DO NOT ARGUE WITH CUSTOMS, Believe you me! You wont win.

lilfssister · Post by **lilfssister** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:36 am

bizjet_mania wrote:

If you forget to close ur flight plan but ordered fuel then its already done automatically upon getting fuel. I know I didnt get that one either . In the states they also have a security briefing you need to listen to prior to filing.

Uhhhh...no.

The only way to open and close your flight plan is through the FSS. Many pilots have told me they opened their flight plan with the tower. It doesn't happen. As for getting fuel automatically closing your flight plan, that's the wildest thing I've heard in a long time. Unless the local FSS are running a fuel truck on their breaks?

The post re: transponder codes is correct. You must have one when you cross the border into the US. File your VFR flight plan with a request for flight following, here in Canada, and you will get the squawk code when you contact the ACC. You may also be able to get it in advance by calling the ACC on a phone number listed in the CFS for that purpose.

I'm sure you know this part, but we get it a lot from US pilots, calling Canpass to arrange customs is totally separate from filing a flight plan to come back to Canada from the US, or vice versa. You must do BOTH.

Tholl · Post by **Tholl** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:54 am

Thanks for all the info! HAha, I called signature in chicago, and for the biggest flirt of a chick ever.... We talked for like 10 mins about bars she goes to and stuff...CLASSIC! Had her on speaker phone for a few others to hear, and I didnt even need a credit card

I cant wait, its gunna be awesome!
-Tholl

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:09 am

I had landed in cleveland once and forgot to close my flight plan and called the FBO and they told me it was automatically closed when I had ordered fuel with them. Never heard of anyone calling for me because I left it open so it must have worked.

And dont forget to arrange customs 2 hours minimum before entry. They dont like you late, but they dont want too see you too early.