Posted this in another board, didn't get much action. Hope the bigger population here can offer up some ideas. I plan to take the wife to CYTZ for 2 nights for her 40th. I have jumped through all of the bureaucratic hoops and got stickers, and licenses and all that jazz. While I am a bit unnerved about the paperwork process of flying in and out of CA, I don't expect there to be too much drama. I have been searching around online and can't seem to find a good GA write up about how to do the post landing/customs part properly. Questions: how far of a walk is the tunnel from either FBO? once through the tunnel, is that location easy to get an UBER? Also what routes did you fly to avoid spending extended time over water out of gliding distance to land? Plans thus far: CN tower visit. Possible a theatre show, but we have already seen Hamilton and the Harry Potter show doesn't seem that interesting to either one of us. some of the parks look nice to visit Looking for some recommendations. Hoping for decent spring weather to walk around the city.
Not using Basic Med? What route are you planning on? At one time you HAD to stay in aircraft until Inspector arrived. Not sure now. Nice walk downtown. Large Mall. There were a bunch of restaurants in the theater district that were good and reasonable. “ Ed’s ———————-“.
I have class 3 med at the moment. planning on following the coast up to Buffalo and crossing over there. I'll probably fuel up somewhere near buff and the file IFR into CA....at least thats my tentative plan.
So you are coming from South? KBQR has credit card fuel and a new approach. If in that area you can check out Niagara Falls ( “ scenic Falls” ) enroute. Leaving BUF you could fly near Hamilton around the horseshoe to minimize over water time.
I frequently fly in and out of Canada and have been to Toronto many times. In terms of process from U.S. to Canada: 1. Call Canada customs several hours before departure, I usually do that the night before because you can be on hold for a very long time sometimes. Tell them your ETA and give them all your info, passport, wife, and plane related information. Make sure you can hit the ETA, you must arrive within 15 minutes of it. I usually give them an ETA that is later than what I think it would be. If I'm early, it's easy to make a detour for sightseeing or slowing down the plane. If I'm late, I can't go faster or stop the time. 2. File your exit eapis. There as well, you need to give your ETA for departure, border crossing and arrival. If you're off though, it doesn't matter as long as you fly on the date you put in the eapis. 3. File an international flight plan and don't forget to activate it. 4. Once you land in Canada, stay on your plane and call customs again. Most of the time, they will clear you right by phone, give you a number that I usually put into my logbook and send you on your way. Occasionally they'll tell you to wait for them to come to the plane. While in Toronto, CN tower is a good one. Just hanging out downtown is nice. Toronto island park is nice if the weather is nice (hit and miss this time of the year), Distillery District is worth checking out, Casa Loma for some old world flair... There is a lot to do in Toronto.
The Toronto Four Seasons was amazing and the spa there was outstanding. Cafe Boulud was also great. Had my first baked Alaska there. One of the nicest hotels/spas I’ve been to and would go back in a heartbeat.
Chris, thanks for the info. This is very helpful. really glad you mentioned the ETA part.. I wonder why the US doesnt care about the time I come back as long as the day is good. I plan on filing IFR from KIAG to CYTZ via FF.... I guess if it's nice I could do it VFR...ok now I feel dumb... does FF automatically make it an international VFR flight plan if my route crosses borders? do I open and close within the app, same as flying around in the states?
The U.S. very much cares about you showing up on time when you return to the States. Same rule, you announce your ETA by phone and have to arrive within 15 minutes of it. It's just, they don't care on the on the eapis that you file online. Regarding VFR flight plan, when you go to Canada, you file just like you normally would on 1800 WX but make sure to select the international version. On 1800 WX you have two options, domestic and international although it's set to international as a default as you can use it for domestic plans as well. When you return to the U.S., you have to file with Canadian ATC. If you have an account with TC, do it online, otherwise, do it by phone. In Canada, you do not have to open your flight plan, it automatically opens at your stated departure time. I can't answer your FF question as I don't use that app.
Don't bring any alcohol with you. And the mounties are very serious about that 15 minute window. I got put thru the wringer when I was 30 minutes late.
Call them from the air if you have cell coverage or let ATC know and hope they will let CBP know (they usually don’t). If none of it works, hope that the officer is nice. I once showed up almost an hour late due to weather but the officer was super cool, said safety first and he’s glad we arrived safely. I also once arrived just outside of the timeframe (off by like 10 minutes) and I had to listen to 10 minutes about the importance of these timeframes and how this better never happen again.
Here's a suggestion. It's what I had planned to do last fall, but things didn't work out. Maybe consider hiring a CFI and a rental for a harbor flight past the skyline. The base is Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ).
If he’s flying his own plane, no need for rental and CFI. Toronto ATC usually accommodates Skyline Tours to private pilots. Flying into the island airport is half the Skyline Tour already.
