Canada overflight question

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 04:45:04 GMT, "SeeAndAvoid"
wrote:

Hey all,
Anyone in the Great Lakes area familiar with the procedures for overflying
Canadian airspace? Specifically from the Detroit area to Niagara Falls, NY.
Is there a fee if you don't land in Canada? Do you still have to file a
DVFR flight plan? I can't believe you'd have to go through customs once in
NY, right?
I'd prefer to land in St. Catherines, ON , but I thought I read somewhere
that on entering Canada you have to land at first INTL airport, and I'm
assuming on return to the US I'd have to go through Niagara Falls anyway,
pay some landing/parking fee's and then play with customs, so not worth it
probably.
Flying direct saves me a few gallons, about 20mins, and avoids the whole
Cleveland Class B and curving around the south side of Lake Erie.
Any opinions?
Thanks, Chris

Nov 03, I flew from Chicago to Niagara. Route was around Lake
Michigan then just north of Detroit along the North side of Erie to
Niagara.

You have to be on a flightplan and talking to ATC in order to cross
the border into Canada. I filed an IFR flightplan and picked up my
clearance as I was just North of Detroit (but still on the US side).
Stayed on instruments for the remainder of the trip to Niagara. As
far as landing locations - my understanding is that as long as the
takeoff and landing airports are in the US, the overflight does not
require a customs stop. This means the takeoff and destination airport
can be anywhere in the US.

Make note that there is a restricted area over Niagara Falls.

Because of a slight wind advantage, I flew home along the South edge
of Erie and past the Buffalo and Cleveland lakeshores. Both were
accomodating with airspace transitions.

I spoke to a Canadian ATC facility, (I think Toronto Center) for the
bulk of my Canada overflight. I haven't received a bill yet, and that
was 3 months ago. So you may or may not get charged.

One thing to note: The ground based US border can have long waits.
When I went, my hotel was on the Canada side of the falls. Arriving
at about 9pm on Friday night there was no wait. However, returning at
2pm on a Sunday afternoon was brutal. A two hour wait. Next time, I
will investigate landing on the Canadian side. I believe Niagara
District Airport is a customs entry point. It is also a very nice
Drive along the river North towards the airport - very scenic.

-Nathan