Transitioning Canada

Edima3

Edima3

Filing Flight Plan
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Nov 11, 2020
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edima3
Low hour VFR pilot here....is it permissible to transition Canada to fly from northern Detroit area to Cleveland area? Would use flight following. Thanks,
 
File an international flight plan that includes a point in Canada (can be a VOR or an airport)
Once you take off, call the US FSS and 1) activate the flight plan and 2) get an international squawk code
Either contact a US or Canadian ATC and tell them you will overfly Canada
Proceed to your destination
Close the flight plan
 
Make sure you have a 3rd class medical. I don’t think Canada recognizes Basic Med yet.
 
If you're low time VFR read up on the optical effects you can have going over a large body of water, and keep in mind we're getting into lake effect season.
 
Great information. Thank you! I hold a PPL ticket. My intention is to make this trip during the warmer months. Along with being able to travel around the Midwest quicker, visiting family in Cleveland was always one of the missions that I had in mind when working towards my ticket.
 
Looks like you could ‘island hop’ on the west end of Lake Erie, saving time.

I’ve done N of DTW to Niagara Falls, no issues, no landing in Canada.
 
I have done it both ways: Direct through Canada on a VFR flight plan talking to Detroit approach, Or staying low, under the class B, skirting Canadian airspace. Either way works
 
Hi Erwin!
Yes, it can be done. I do it ... island hopping off Point Pelee from metro Detroit and running the northern shore of Lake Erie to Buffalo.

I have never heard of the "international flight plan" MountainDude mentioned.
Required:
- Be on an active flight plan.
- Be in contact with ATC prior to crossing the border.
- Have an ATC-assigned transponder code.

Follow Canada's rules when in Canadian airspace.

Nice to have: passport, in case you land out.
 
MountainDude said:
File an international flight plan that includes a point in Canada (can be a VOR or an airport)
Click to expand...

Huh? Wha?

You file just like normal VFR flight plan. Route if flight can be FNT -D-> LOM if you so desire. Open with FSS, then squawk and talk (Flight Following) with ATC. Depending on the route you may not ever talk with Canada as ZOB overlays some of Canada.
 
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Todd82 said:
If you're low time VFR read up on the optical effects you can have going over a large body of water, and keep in mind we're getting into lake effect season.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't consider lake Erie large enough as you can always see shoreline provided vis isn't crap. Even crossing Lake Michigan (lost count of the number of times I crossed) most times you never lose sight of shore even crossing BIV to MKE
 
The only rules are
  1. You have to be on a flight plan (VFR or IFR).
  2. You have to be squawking a discrete code.
  3. You have to be talking to ATC when you cross the border.
It's an absolutely-routine operation. Be aware that we use 126.7 MHz as a general enroute frequency (most VFRs will be on it, unless they have flight following), all controlled airspace in Canada (including the class E corridor around airways) becomes class B above 12,500 ft, and that "MF" around some airports means you have to be talking on a mandatory frequency (often, but not always, to an FSS). Mostly, though, the rules are the same as in the U.S.
 
Erwin DiMalanta said:
Low hour VFR pilot here....is it permissible to transition Canada to fly from northern Detroit area to Cleveland area? Would use flight following. Thanks,
Click to expand...
Along that route it's more likely that you will only talk with US ATC, even if you are overflying Canada. I've done it many times IFR and never talked with anyone but US ATC.
 
More great advice and information....thank you! I have yet to cross any larger bodies of water, but will start doing so in the summer months. Still getting the hang of VFR FF and making some longer flights for work and recreation. I typically file using Foreflight, then pick up flight following shortly after take off from my local airport north of Detroit.
 
David Megginson said:
The only rules are
  1. You have to be on a flight plan (VFR or IFR).
  2. You have to be squawking a discrete code.
  3. You have to be talking to ATC when you cross the border.
It's an absolutely-routine operation. Be aware that we use 126.7 MHz as a general enroute frequency (most VFRs will be on it, unless they have flight following), all controlled airspace in Canada (including the class E corridor around airways) becomes class B above 12,500 ft, and that "MF" around some airports means you have to be talking on a mandatory frequency (often, but not always, to an FSS). Mostly, though, the rules are the same as in the U.S.
Click to expand...

When does the mandatory frequency apply? Specific altitude or distance from the airport?
 
iamtheari said:
When does the mandatory frequency apply? Specific altitude or distance from the airport?
Click to expand...
It will say in the CFS. It's usually an airport control zone — where the U.S. would typically have Class D with a part-time tower, we often have Class E with a MF.
 
Edima3 said:
Still getting the hang of VFR FF and making some longer flights for work and recreation. I typically file using Foreflight, then pick up flight following shortly after take off from my local airport north of Detroit.
Click to expand...

Interesting. For X Country I’ve always gotten Flight Following, but I’ve yet to file a flight plan.
 
WDD said:
Interesting. For X Country I’ve always gotten Flight Following, but I’ve yet to file a flight plan.
Click to expand...
Heeding the instruction of my CFI. I figure as a new pilot, the more people that want to keep an eye on me, the better!

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
 
WDD said:
Interesting. For X Country I’ve always gotten Flight Following, but I’ve yet to file a flight plan.
Click to expand...
They're not mutually exclusive. :)

If you're actually flying VFR in Canada more than 25 nm straight-line distance from your departure airport (not just transitioning Canadian airspace), you have to have either a flight plan or a flight itinerary.

That's not as onerous as it sounds — a "flight itinerary" just means someone knows where you were heading and will report you missing if you don't check in after landing. It's good enough to tell your hangar buddy that you're leaving for Airport X at 2, plan to arrive at 4, and will text them when you land.
 
I’ve flow this same flight several times. Both VFR and IFR. No issues at all. When flying to Cleveland VFR I’ve never been on a VFR flight plan. Not that a VFR flight plan isn’t a good idea but I haven’t filled one since I got my ppl. The last VFR flight plan I filled was the flight to my PPL check ride. Call Detroit approach, let them know where you’re going and fallow along. Easy Sometimes they will vector you a little to the west but usually I just fly direct. If vfr I’ll ask to be cleared up to 5500 over the lake and I can’t remember ever being denied. Now that I have my IR I always file but before I just flew VFR and used FF. Might not be the correct way to do it but it always worked.
 
Thanks Alphamike. Simple and straightforward information. Really appreciate it.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk
 
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