"S Green" wrote in message ...
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
om...
Does anyone know the actual reason you're required to file a flight
plan when crossing the boarding between the U.S. and Canada? Does
someone sit down at the end of the year and try to count operations
based on them? They carry NO customs benefit since customs are handled
separately.

Usually, when we fly south into Mexico, we don't both filing since the
U.S. has no way to actually hand the flight plan to Mexico. Most of
the Mexico AOI don't even have working phones, much less computers.
However, they are always happy to see you arrive at any time. Of
course crossing the ADIZ northbound from Mexico is a different thing
all together.

ICAO regulations.

Flying round Europe, you need to file a flight plan even though there are no
border controls between many of the countries. (Schengen States)

Not completely true.
Some states do not require a VFR flight plan to cross their borders.
If memory serves well Germany and Austria are such states.
So, when you fly from Holland to Germany you have to file a flight
plan be
cause it is in the Dutch regulations but Germany does not require it,
except....
It is possible to fly from Holland to Germany without flight plan if
you take of from Teuge and land at Aachen for example.
There are some more airport combinations that you can choose from.
I don't bother, I file flights plans when crossing borders anyway.
Which leads to another topic, how to file flight plans in other
countries or get meteo or notams. This is where the fun starts.