Twins first birthday and flight to Canada
Oct 1-11, 2016
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map of trip KTRK -> KSZT -> CYBW -> KGPI -> KTRK
Rough flight plan
On Saturday, we had the twins birthday party which was a huge
success! Ahead of the first snow storm to hit Tahoe, we flew to
Canada on Sunday to visit the grandparents. A nice tailwind most of
the way had us in Sandpoint, Idaho in 3.4 hours. The flight from
there to Calgary-Springbank was gorgeous, we flew through Fernie,
up towards Sparwood, and then went over the mountains east
and over Bragg Creek. To add to the
AOPA
description of how to plan a flight to Canada,
it's not
required to be in radio contact with Canada when you cross the
border - in fact, Canada doesn't have such a thing as "VFR flight
following". Before we got to the US/Canada border, the US
controllers dropped us (we were outside of their radar zone) and
from then on, we were squawking VFR, not talking to anyone - the
only important thing to know is to call CANPASS before to give them
passport information etc, so they expect you when you land, and you
need to be on an active flight plan (which you have to cancel with
tower or when on the ground). I tried to contact "Pacific approach"
as we were crossing the border, but could not get through. We got in
touch with Calgary approach once we hit the foothills, and after we
landed, I called CANPASS and they gave me a number to copy and that
was it!
We had lots of fun in Calgary catching up with friends, enjoying
all the parks and walks, and eating lots of delicious food!
On the return flight, according to the AOPA page, you have to be in
active radio communication when you cross the border. We planned to
cross in a mountainous area below radio/radar coverage again (due
to clouds we stayed lower than usual and crossed the mountains over
the Crowsnest Pass highway). I wasn't sure how it would work and
made several phone calls. In conclusion, it's NOT required to be
speaking to US approach controllers - again, you must be on an
active flight plan (which I filed with Navcanada online). On departure
from CYBW, the tower gave us a squawk code which was the same one
that we would use for crossing the border (so we can be identified
on radar). I double checked with Flight Service that they were
expecting us just north of Eugene, MT, and we proceed to Kalispell
with no further excitement. Landing there, we quickly taxied to
customs, and had a pleasant efficient experience. Then we had lunch
at the Glacier Jet Center, got fuel, and continued on our way! The
weather was "broken clouds 5000ft" and I circled over Kalispell in a
clearing a few times to get up to 10,500', above the layer of
clouds, after which we proceeded home.
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U2 practicing low approaches on Friday |
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The construction in Truckee is nearing an end... |
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Mountains southwest of Baker City, OR |
Our flight engineer is monitoring engine parameters |
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Descending at Sandpoint Idaho. I remember driving across that bridge! |
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Swanky terminal building at Sandpoint Idaho! |
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The twins loved exploring |
Departing Sandpoint towards the Canadian border |
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Gorgeous mountains in Kananaskis |
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The foothills, with downtown Calgary in the distance |
Springbank arrival on runway 17 |
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Crystal Lakes resort in Montana, close to the border |
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Circling to get above the clouds in Kalispell |
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Grand Canyon of the Snake river |
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