Decal for border crossings

ArrowFlyer86

ArrowFlyer86

Pattern Altitude
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The Little Arrow That Could
Buying it on DTOPS.

Question: it says it takes 4-6 weeks to deliver this thing. Does that mean you can't actually go international until its received? Or is it recorded somewhere showing that you bought it and you're good to go?
 
you can use the receipt of it to prove you have the decal. but it does take a few weeks to get the physical one in. . . You might as well get it early since it goes by year.
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
Buying it on DTOPS.

Question: it says it takes 4-6 weeks to deliver this thing. Does that mean you can't actually go international until it’s received? Or is it recorded somewhere showing that you bought it and you're good to go?
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It came within a week when I ordered mine. Also, how I read it is that you don’t even need it, you can just order one when you are actually flying in as part of your customs clearance. But I do know that you need to email / call the customs location in advance, they don’t like suddenly having to work, they need to be mentally prepared. If the guy sounds like a d$&@ when you call then maybe try a different airport lol.
 
On occasion, I have gone almost a year without having the actual decal because it shipped to my US address and I wasn't there to get it until a long time later. Receipt has always been sufficient.
 
mandm said:
It came within a week when I ordered mine. Also, how I read it is that you don’t even need it, you can just order one when you are actually flying in as part of your customs clearance. But I do know that you need to email / call the customs location in advance, they don’t like suddenly having to work, they need to be mentally prepared. If the guy sounds like a d$&@ when you call then maybe try a different airport lol.
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Thanks for the pro-tip on picking an airport!
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
Thanks for the pro-tip on picking an airport!
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Don't worry, you'll find a d*ckhead eventually if you do enough border crossings. I've been threatened with fines on three occasions. All in the US. One in Florida. Two in Texas. Not once in Mexico.
 
rwellner98 said:
Don't worry, you'll find a d*ckhead eventually if you do enough border crossings. I've been threatened with fines on three occasions. All in the US. One in Florida. Two in Texas. Not once in Mexico.
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Curious -- what can they be dick-ish about?
I would think it's pretty cut-and-dry to get you and your aircraft cleared?
 
“You were 16 minutes late…”
“You got out of the aircraft without authorization!”
“You didn’t get out of the aircraft”

Basically, they can make up anything if they want to be a-holes.

All that being said, no terrible experiences on our side of the border (yet).
 
dans2992 said:
“You were 16 minutes late…”
“You got out of the aircraft without authorization!”
“You didn’t get out of the aircraft”

Basically, they can make up anything if they want to be a-holes.

All that being said, no terrible experiences on our side of the border (yet).
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Wow. I'd have a hard time biting my tongue if they got stupid over being 16 minutes late :)
But I'm guessing getting snippy with them doesn't improve matters!

Glad to hear no terrible experiences...
 
To bad air entry hasn't gotten as good as the boating. The captain puts allt he crew/passengers names into the ROAM act and 15 minutes later you have clearance to enter the US.
 
I couldn't get my decal in time for a trip north through Canada to Alaska this summer and had no problem re-entering the US at Haines. They didn't ask about the sticker or reciept, just passports and the form they wanted filled out (paper form they give to you when you show up). The eAPIS electronic filing was the most tedious part of the whole thing. Like you, it is my understanding that the DTOPS receipt should be sufficient if they inquire about it, though. The corect receipt to bring should have the decal number on it.
 
dans2992 said:
“You were 16 minutes late…”
“You got out of the aircraft without authorization!”
“You didn’t get out of the aircraft”

Basically, they can make up anything if they want to be a-holes.

All that being said, no terrible experiences on our side of the border (yet).
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That is my biggest issue. There is no consistency between facilities. Some want you to stay in the airplane until they come out, other locations expect you to come inside. Do I have to take the luggage out or not. Wherever you stop, be damn sure you call them prior to your departure!
 
Dave Theisen said:
That is my biggest issue. There is no consistency between facilities. Some want you to stay in the airplane until they come out, other locations expect you to come inside. Do I have to take the luggage out or not. Wherever you stop, be damn sure you call them prior to your departure!
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That sounds obnoxious!
Is that not something you can clarify when you call them and advise on your departure? Just ask: "am I expected to remain in my plane or come inside?"
Just so they can't get too upset about you doing exactly what you were instructed?
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
That sounds obnoxious!
Is that not something you can clarify when you call them and advise on your departure? Just ask: "am I expected to remain in my plane or come inside?"
Just so they can't get too upset about you doing exactly what you were instructed?
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Yes, definitely ask them. My problem is, if they are one agency, why the difference in procedures.
 
Honestly, it should all be done electronically via eAPIS. Why do I need to submit, then also call?

I have noticed that lately an email to the local contact with the eAPIS ID number will get you permission to land and document it at the same time also, so that might be something to do instead of calling.
 
Where ya headed? Can I come?

Back when we did the 1st ever PoA Bahamas fly-in, we filed eAPIS but were not required to call (into FPR). Then it got bad and changed. Now I hear FPR is decent again. I wouldn’t have minded calling but it makes for late departures since they don’t open until mid/late morning.
 
kaiser said:
Where ya headed? Can I come?

Back when we did the 1st ever PoA Bahamas fly-in, we filed eAPIS but were not required to call (into FPR). Then it got bad and changed. Now I hear FPR is decent again. I wouldn’t have minded calling but it makes for late departures since they don’t open until mid/late morning.
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You can call (or email) the day before.
 
kaiser said:
Back when we did the 1st ever PoA Bahamas fly-in, we filed eAPIS but were not required to call (into FPR). Then it got bad and changed. Now I hear FPR is decent again. I wouldn’t have minded calling but it makes for late departures since they don’t open until mid/late morning.
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I'm still more than a little salty about my shop dragging their feet on my annual in 2023, blowing through every deadline they set, and me having to miss that Bahamas trip (if you recall, I was signed up to go).
That's when I got my first custom's decal sticker and signed up for the eApis and everything.
kaiser said:
Where ya headed? Can I come?
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Do you like winter temperatures in Canada? ;)
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
I'm still more than a little salty about my shop dragging their feet on my annual in 2023, blowing through every deadline they set, and me having to miss that Bahamas trip (if you recall, I was signed up to go).
That's when I got my first custom's decal sticker and signed up for the eApis and everything.

Do you like winter temperatures in Canada? ;)
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I think we need to get @ktup-flyer up and do the 2nd Bahamas PoA fly-in. I’m going to need a beach trip this Q1.
 
dans2992 said:
“You were 16 minutes late…”
“You got out of the aircraft without authorization!”
“You didn’t get out of the aircraft”

Basically, they can make up anything if they want to be a-holes.

All that being said, no terrible experiences on our side of the border (yet).
Click to expand...
I have had #2 and 3 happen at different locations. We cleared into KADS close to 2 years ago and it was the best experience I have had with US Customs.
 
ArrowFlyer86 said:
Curious -- what can they be dick-ish about?
I would think it's pretty cut-and-dry to get you and your aircraft cleared?
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Two were lost paperwork, one was that I didn't call ahead. But, of course, I had called ahead and no one answered. And, someone mentioned "you didn't get out of the airplane". I've never been dinged by that, because someone clued me in before my international crossing. But it's absolutely insane that some places are "stay in plane, door shut" and others are "come into the building for service" and you just have to know to ask how your destination for the day handles things.

My favorite "dumb government" lost paperwork one was that they basically interrogated me for 30 minutes about why I didn't file and implied I was smuggling things. Took me that long to convince them to let me go back to the plane, get my laptop and show them my receipt. Naturally, instead of being happy to have found the explanation and apologizing for interrogating innocent little me, he seemed ****ed that I had shown him up.

My all time favorite good one was an airport that you had to call ahead and arrange to have staffed. I can't remember if it was Texas or Arizona right now. But when I got there, it was this sleepy little airport with no services and, for reasons I can't explain, was willing to send someone up from the border to process airplanes on an on-demand basis. There were two of them, we had a nice chat and they said it was nice to do something different to break up the day.

But, unless weather dictates otherwise, I always clear in McAllen, TX now. They do enough volume that they know how the program works, but not so much that there are lines. They get a ton of Mexican registered planes (and nice ones, think king airs and PC-12s) with families going on vacation places like South Padre Island too, so they aren't assuming everyone is a criminal like some of the places further west *cough*Laredo*cough* seem to assume. And more often than not, I'll make that an overnight because there is a great japanese restaurant there. Then the next morning I get up and push on to wherever I'm going.
 
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Plano Pilot said:
I have had #2 and 3 happen at different locations. We cleared into KADS close to 2 years ago and it was the best experience I have had with US Customs.
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I never had any problems coming south, but I went through Rochester. At the time, AOPA was warning against coming through Watertown. They were reported to have a major attitude there.

I had an interesting experience going north. Most of the time, you would land at the AOE and call. You would get a number which was written on a piece of paper and left on the glare shield. Not this time. I was met at the plane with by a girl boss with a major attitude. She ordered me to bring my luggage into the little customs shack. I said that I don't have any luggage. She screamed what kind of person comes to Canada and doesn't bring luggage? I explained that we have a cottage at Belmont Lake, and I just bring up food for the family. I have it in cardboard boxes. She said bring 'em in, and I did. She scrutinized every box and can. I had a few beautiful baking potatoes which caught her eye. She said those are contraband and she seized them. Apparently the US had embargoed lumber products, so Canada retaliated by banning some agricultural products, including my lovely potatoes.

About 6 months later I got a postcard from Canadian customs. It was a receipt for the potatoes.
 
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