Brad Z
Final Approach
Yep. I cleared US customs from Canada once at Lubec ME, a 2,000 foot grass strip with literally nothing else there other than a windsock. I did so because Eastport ME, were I usually cleared, wasn't open on the weekends. I called ahead, gave my ETA and all was good. Left Halifax and made the flight (IFR, complete with an approach into Eastport and a 4nm VFR run at pattern altitude) over to Lubec. I landed, and just as I shut down the CBP officer pulled up in his SUV. He had no idea the airstrip, just a few miles down the road from the Campobello Island border crossing where he was working that day, existed. I'm not sure if he was new, or normally worked another crossing, but I got the impression that a lot of these smaller AOEs are rarely used.This wouldn't work at many airports since they don't staff all CBP offices at airports. For example, KIAG is where I crossed last time. I talked to the officer a bit over the phone when I announced my arrival the day prior and he said they don't actually have any staff at the airport. If they know someone is due to arrive there (hence the call ahead request with ETA), they will send someone either from the land border or from KBUF. I know a lot of the airports of entry along the Canadian border operate in similar fashion where they'll either send an officer from the land border or a nearby larger airport if there is one.
All of that said, we communicate our arrival intention through eapis. After filing we get a clearance message. I agree with others that a phone call is superfluous since we've already had two-way communications.
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