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PUFA NEWSLETTER
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November 27, 2002
Fred Glasbergen, President
Walter Klatt, Vice-President
Sandra Clark, Treasurer
Daryl Hegyi, Secretary
Mail to: Pacific Ultralight Flying Association
102-16071 82 Avenue
Surrey, B.C. V3S 2L6
PUFA Newsletter published by Glenn Ursel
PUFA Website Version edited by Walter Klatt
by Glenn Ursel
Went to Alberta again last week (the fifth time this year) for a visit with relatives and friends. Reading the media there was a bit of an eye opener regarding our possible future fate for energy costs under a reorganized BC Hydro. One unlucky owner of a gas station near Edmonton was billed in excess of $262,000 for one month's use of electricity that was actually only about $1,500. The company, EPCOR, initially refused to acknowledge its error and suggested that the man pay the bill and obtain a credit for any error later. Needless to say the fellow declined this kind offer and took the issue to the media. Even without gross errors like this, energy costs in Alberta seem to be much higher than BC due apparently to the separate charges by different companies for power generation, power transmission, administration, etc. Is this what is in store for us in BC? Note that the provincial government announced a plan this week for the restructuring of BC Hydro into two crown corporations for generation and transmission...
Anyway, back to our aviation newsletter, I didn't have much time to work on it this month and it seems our Executive didn't have much time either since I couldn't get any comment from them or much of an agenda for this month's meeting.
Consequently, as I am wont to do under these circumstances, I searched the Internet and obtained a couple of articles from the COPA website which explain some of the outfall from the terrorist attack of September 11th, 2001 - a new photo identification requirement for pilots flying within the United States and new more stringent procedures for flying into the United States.
I realize that many of us ultralighters may no longer be interested
in these details since one of our eastern brothers agitated for a more
formal entry procedure for flying ultralights into the US which resulted
in the requirement for an instructor's permit. Those of us who do
have an instructor's permit or a private pilot licence may be interested
in these articles.
Photo Identification Requirements
As of Oct. 28th, 2002: U.S. pilots must carry photo id. This rule revises the pilot certificate requirements to require a person to carry a photo identification acceptable to the Administrator when exercising the privileges of a pilot certificate. Additionally, this final rule requires a pilot certificate holder to present a photo identification when requested by the Administrator, an authorized representative of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or a law enforcement officer. These measures address security concerns regarding the identification of pilots. Although the rule does not specifically address foreign pilots, it is wise for all Canadian pilots to carry photo identification (driver's license, passport) with you when flying in the United States.
Flying into the United States? Do it right.
Warning: Failing to make a direct verbal notification to the United States Customs Service of your intended arrival at a "U.S. Customs facility airport" on a flight from Canada may result in a $5,000 U.S. fine. The procedures for clearing U.S. Customs and Immigration when flying a private aircraft from Canada into the United States are not prohibitively difficult. The most important thing to understand is that the onus for arranging for clearance to enter the U.S. is on the pilot, not the American authorities. Things have tightened up since Sept. 11, 2001.
GATE
Forget GATE, the General Aviation Telephonic Entry system for clearing
customs and immigration into the U.S. has been suspended indefinitely.
U.S. CUSTOMS FACILITY AIRPORTS
The pilots of all aircraft landing in the United States after departing
Canada must plan to make their first landing at a U.S. Customs facility
airport. These are listed in several different American airport guides
including "AOPA's Airport Directory" available to AOPA subscribers (remember
that COPA members receive a special rate to join AOPA) in hard copy or
on-line. The same list of airports and Customs contact phone numbers
is publicly available on the COPA's sister organization, the International
Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations' Web site: www.iaopa.org/proc/usairports/.
ADVANCE NOTICE
American Customs requires advance, direct notice of an aircraft's intended
arrival to U.S. Customs at the airport of entry. Failure to do so
violates Customs regulations and will result in a severe penalty.
More than one COPA member has been recently fined $5,000 U.S. for "inappropriate
method of reporting an arrival." Since pilots must confirm that their
notice has been received, the only way to do this is by telephone.
Faxes are not acceptable. Either are flight plan notices. Even
though flight plan notification service is available, pilots must contact
Customs directly to ensure that they have received permission to land (landing
rights). Since the confirmation of notice received is verbal, ask
the officer on the telephone for a badge number to be used in the case
of miscommunication later. Be ready to give the full names, citizenship
and birth dates of everyone on board. To ensure timely inspection
in all states, U.S. Customs requests that all calls (advance notices of
arrival), regardless of when service is required, be made during regular
business hours indicated in the airport listings. When "Service on-call
only" is listed, Customs usually does not staff that airport. Therefore,
requests for service outside the usual operating hours should only be made
by telephone. Please note: each U.S. Customs office is different
in terms of staffing and hours. Notification of arrival can vary
from one hour to 48 hours.
To avoid overtime charges, contact Customs before departure to verify the hours during which free service normally can be expected.
LANDING RIGHTS AIRPORTS
Some U.S. Customs facility airports are designated "Landing Rights
Airports." Prior permission to land at a landing rights airport to
clear Customs must be obtained from Customs personnel.
USER FEE AIRPORTS
User fee airports are those which, while not qualifying for designation
as international or landing rights airports because of insufficient volume
or value of business, have been approved by the Commissioner of Customs
to receive the services of Customs officers on a fee basis for the processing
of aircraft entering the United States and their passengers and cargo.
When "user fee charges will apply" is indicated, pilots are advised to
call the airport for an estimate of the charges. Fees may range from
$100 to $300, depending on the time of service.
ADCUS AND ETA
Pilots flying to a U.S. destination from Canada must file a flight
plan and follow it. It is advisable to indicate "ADCUS" (for "advise
customs") on the flight plan. Although this cannot be considered
the primary or only way of giving the U.S. Customs notice of arrival, it
backs up the primary notice and provides a method of updating the Customs
officer when you change your estimated time of arrival through flight service.
Please note: Although nothing is written anywhere about accuracy requirement of an ETA, reports to us indicate that Customs officials want you to be within plus or minus 15 minutes of your planned arrival time, as reported to them via phone. If you will be early, slow down to make good your estimate. If you will be late, some U.S. Flight Service Stations will relay your change to Customs but this does not eliminate the potential for a fine. Our advice is to plan to land at a U.S. Customs-available airport near the border. If you cannot make your planned arrival time, land at a Canadian airport and contact U.S. Customs again. Any other method may get you in trouble.
USER FEE DECAL
Private aircraft, including corporate aircraft, that enter the United
States must purchase a User Fee Decal. In order to qualify as a private
aircraft requiring a decal, the aircraft cannot carry passengers who pay
an airfare. The Private Aircraft Decal costs $25.00 U.S. per calendar
year. Decals can be obtained via an Annual User Fee Decal Request
Form (CF-339):
(a) from a local U.S. Customs port,
(b) by calling Decal Inquiries, Tel.: 317-298-1200, ext. 1245,
(c) by downloadable form via the Internet: www.customs.gov/travel/forms.htm,
or
(d) applying online at https://tradelinks.mellon.com/cgi-bin/tsmenu.pl/cstm.
Applying for decals online via
the Internet is
quick because electronic processing is utilized.
This is also the most accurate option for
applying. (COPA used this method and the decal
arrived via mail at the COPA office in five days.)
To receive a decal within 5 to 7 days, you may Fax your application to 412-234-3541, using a credit card for payment, indicating a "ship to" address in the United States, and selecting the optional overnight courier shipping method for U.S. addresses.
If applicants opt to use first class mail, a check for payment, and/or a "ship to" address outside the United States, it may take three to six weeks before the decals are received. Please note: U.S. Customs offices no longer carry these decals for sale. It is permissible to arrive in the United States without one as long as you have a credit card to use in the application.
Questions should be directed to Decal Inquiries, Tel.: 317-298-1200, extension 1245, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, or via e-mail: decals@customs.treas.gov
DOCUMENTATION
Canadian citizens seeking tourist or business entry into the U.S. must
carry proof of citizenship. Most other foreigners require an American
VISA.
Please note: It is the pilot's responsibility to ensure that passengers
are properly documented for entry into the U.S. When vehicles cross
the border, they can be turned back. That does not work for aircraft.
The officer has little choice but to impound the aircraft and passengers
until suitable arrangements can be made. Better to call ahead to
find out what is needed for
non-Canadian passengers foreign to the U.S.
I DECLARE
The same is true for goods that are being taken into the United States.
There is a long list of "don'ts" that appear on the U.S. Customs Web site:
www.customs.treas.gov/travel/visi.htm. The pilot is responsible to know
that no one onboard is carrying illegal goods. This can be something
as simple as meat. Business travellers should also be wary of what
they are carrying and why they are entering the United States. Product
samples may be limited in quantity. Check the Web site or ask the
officer when arranging an arrival time.
ANYTHING ELSE?
Cross-border flyers with recent experiences that differ from the above
are asked to let us know about them. The same goes for pilots with
information to add. Contact Adam Hunt, COPA manager Membership Services,
Tel.: 613-236-4901, E-mail:
ahunt@copanational.org.
RETURNING TO CANADA
The procedures for flying into Canada from the United States appear
in the homepage story: "CANPASS is back."
Additional border crossing information is available from the Experimental
Aircraft Association (EAA).
Originally published on the COPA Website at: http://www.copanational.org/non-members/index.htm