Good morning, I was wondering if a map exists that shows where all the airpots of entry in the US are located? Maybe a skyvector or foreflight layer, or even just a crappy jpg image. Just to have a rough idea where they are located. It would make flight planning much easier. Couldn't find anything here or on google. Thank you, digits
That shows a map of the US, but the location of the ports aren't shown on the map. At least not here in my chrome browser. You can click on the states and it lists you the airports, but you have to look up every airport to know where it's ocated. I was hoping for a map with dots showing where the airports of entry are located.
Are you asking which airports have the red box on the tarmac next to a US Customs building? We have one for example at KRYY for international flights from foreign places (like Alabama.......)
I''m looking for a quick way to see which airports I can use when entering the US from Canada. I think it's all the airports listed here https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports , but it's a bit cumbersome to have to look where every they are all located. My US geography knowledge is not that great. Basically I'd like to draw a line on the map from my planned departure and arrival airport, and then look for which airport of entry is located closest to that line.
Not sure of a map, but if you click the VFR sectional on ForeFlight some airports have AOE depicted. However, a large amount of airports do not have that placed under the airport info on the map. Believe it might be getting phased out of the charts. In reality, best thing to do (and what most people likely do) is find a convenient airport around where you are planning to enter, go to the info tab, and see if it is an AOE. If not, find the next best convenient airport
It's a shame that this is not easier to find, such as through a checkbox in airnav.com's "advanced search" or fltplan.com's "find a fuel stop." The most convenient airport of entry may not be anywhere near the border. For example, a flight from Winnipeg to Reno goes right past Billings, which is named an international airport but apparently not an airport of entry. But you could go a little out of the way to Butte, which has nothing on the chart indicating it's an airport of entry but does appear in the CBP list. This is also clearly the kind of data that could be driving those "data-driven maps" that Foreflight and Garmin Pilot want us to use, but as far as I can tell is not available to display/filter.
I would always recommend to clear customs at the first possible airport after crossing the border. In the off chance that you're denied entry (in case you're not a U.S. citizen) because you didn't dot an i or cross a t in one of the items you have to fill out, make calls for, or whatever, you are at least close to Canada for a short flight back home. If you fly 5 hours into the U.S., that 5 hour flight back in case of a denial will really suck. Also, you have to call the POE to announce your arrival and they will want you to be at the specified airport within your specified timeframe (usually +/- 30 minutes). If you're flying a bug smasher five hours into the States, what are the chances that you have to land sooner due to miscalculated fuel/headwind, due to weather diversion, etc. take arrive outside the 30 minute tolerance? Now you're in a bad spot because they expect you at airport A but you're going to airport B or arrive at Airport A much sooner or later than they're expecting you. If you pick an airport just across the border, estimating the arrival time is much easier and chances for having to divert are much lower. Where in Canada are you coming from and where in the U.S. are you going? I made that crossing many times and depending on where you're from and where you're going, I can probably let you know which airport is best to clear customs at.
For this specific flight it would be CYGM - KJAC, but my question was more general, as there will be more frequent trips in the future.
For that particular flight, Minot (KMOT) is your most convenient airport to clear customs. Second most convenient would be Williston (KXWA).
I'm from the same general area (neighbour Province to the west of y'all) and your options for port of entries are somewhat limited in that area compared to the west coast or Ontario to be honest.
Minot is my recommendation even if it's slightly out of the way. After you clear customs, you can take a courtesy car, Uber, Lyft, or taxi to get good food or just walk across the street to get food. Or if you need to catch a commercial flight, you can easily walk or get a ride to the commercial terminal. Williston's new airport is way out in the boonies with absolutely no nearby businesses of any sort and the FBO is nowhere near the commercial airport, without anything resembling a safe walking path between them. I haven't gone through customs at either, but I have experience with both and would not send someone to Williston unless he had business there.
I cleared customs in Williston and it was nothing but pleasant despite the fact that I had a mechanical issue with the airplane. The guy working at customs is super nice, the FBO gave me a ride to the commercial terminal so I could pick up a rental car and the local mechanic fixed up the plane within a few days and kept the plane in their hangar until we could come back to pick it up at no additional cost. Never cleared customs at KMOT but called to inquire a few times. Weather was just more favorable at other airports every time I considered KMOT.
I'm glad to hear a positive PIREP from KXWA. I have not been through the FBO much and have no bad experiences there, but didn't ask for a ride to the terminal or into town.
Sounds like you need to improve your US geography knowledge, you lazy Canuck. Why aren't you coming to visit me? Explain yourself.
XWA does have a nice FBO with a nice pilot's lounge, but as Ari said, it's WAY out of town. Customs is in the same building as the FBO, however, I was told by one of our pilots the customs agent working XWA would actually need to drive out from MOT as they don't have anyone stationed at XWA. MOT you can park at the FBO and the customs office is right there.
Oh boy, I can 100% disagree with that statement and I'm coming in from the "undefended" friendly northern border.
I think that’s pretty standard operation at airports of entry that are farther inland and don’t have a high volume of traffic. Even at airports of entry adjacent to a land bridge they may not have someone regularly sitting at the airport waiting for people to just show up. Personally, I’d always try to clear customs going either direction as close to the border as practical. In this case I’d do MOT unless there was a compelling reason not to.
I heard that, too, but when I cleared customs there the agent said he's permanently at XWA. Last time I planned on clearing at XWA but wasn't able to due to weather it also appeared as though he was there permanently. I called him as I cancelled the flight the day prior to departure (well, rerouted the flight to another AOE) and he indicated that he's there anyways in case my plans change. I think they only pull in an agent from MOT for arrivals during after hours.
S28 is a fun option. Land, tie down on the ramp for the country you're entering, walk down the hill to talk to their friendly land border guards, and walk back up the hill to continue your flight.
If OP does that, it's still important to note that all the requirements for border crossings remain e.g. being on a flight plan, eAPIS, calling border guys beforehand with an ETA, etc. Also, from what I've heard, S28 doesn't regularly clear their runway in the winter and it gets snowy in that part of the world.
Ive never been through the Peace Garden in an aircraft but been up there a number of times by car. I’ve always wanted to fly through there.
I had been there by car several times in the 1990s, then not at all for a while, and then flew in for the first time in October 2021 just to get my passport stamp, then flew in again with my wife and dog last summer and walked throughout the International Peace Garden for the day. If you're going to the park, flying worked out great. But I think it would be a less fun hike if you were trying to get to the International Music Camp facilities.
