I'm planning a Canadian overflight from Cleveland to Detroit shortly after I get my ticket, and have been following this thread with great interest. I just (re)applied for my Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit, and as far as I can tell, that's pretty much the only thing I have to do. It seems that I don't need any special markings or stickers or a 12" tail number, and all I really do is file a VFR flight plan with "Canadian overflight" in the remarks section. I'm a little curious how I make the initial call though. Does one simply call Cleveland Approach and say on my initial call that I intend Canadian overflight? Do I call Canadian ATC prior to entering? From whom do I get a code?
From reading this thread, it seems that while one can occasionally venture into Canadian airspace without much issue, I'd rather do things as "by the book" as I possibly can.
ChrisK,
- The flight plan must be filed (VFR or IFR)
- The flight plan must be active. (VFR or IFR)
- Ad-hoc Flight Following is insufficient.
- Pop-up IFR flight plans w/ATC give CBP (AMOC) considerable heartburn
... and may result in you meeting them or other LEOs upon landing. Or; an
airborne intercept.
- Contact Cleveland Approach first. They will not have your VFR flight
plan. So on your first call, you'll likely need to explain that you are "direct
Detroit" (overflying Canada) and need to maintain ATC comms/squawk.
(lest they simply RSTSVFRFCAGD). It's unlikely that you'll chat with
Canadian ATC (unless you are transiting the Windsor CZ/CDA?).
- CBP & the Detroit FSDO will violate you if you put so much as a wingtip
into Canadian airspace without following their rules. The path between
Detroit and the Lake Erie islands is a very popular hunting ground for CBP.
- CBP intercepts in Detroit can be exciting. Nothing like seeing an
aircraft shadow ... then seeing a Citation pull ahead from beneath, ~100'
below. They also operate: C206, C210, C90, UH1, UH60, A-Star, MD500
and Citation.
- Be aware of the nuke plants near Toledo & Monroe ... both have ATC
and CBP on speed-dial. DET Tower & DTW Approach both aggressively
enforce the downtown stadium TFRs. There is a VFR corridor, but it's
small; both laterally & vertically. I'll try to attach an UNofficial chart.
- Seems you are a student. Did your training include lake crossings and
haze? On hazy days, it can easily become an inadvertent VMC-to-IMC
event.