Two airplanes are approaching an aerodrome at the same time. One is planning the straight in downwind for runway 33. The other, is planning on joining the mid-left downwind for 33. Both circuit entries are allowed by law (in Canada) in this situation as this is an uncontrolled airport. Both aircraft had made their required…
Back in 2010 the airport was sold off to Caddilac Fairview to be redeveloped into commercial and residential spaces. Thirteen years later (not far off from Mr. Sifton’s ten year prediction) the official closing date of Nov 30, 2023 was announced. I learned how to fly with Toronto Airways from that airport back in 2008…
Making my way westward towards Lake Havasu, Nevada (KHII), I decide to stop for lunch in Dalhart, TX (KDHT). The next leg of my flight will involve scrutinizing the route on a full stomach. With my iPad and ForeFlight open, I’m interrupted by a fellow pilot inquiring if that’s my airplane on the ramp and…
Update: A 45 min presentation on this topic is now available on YouTube Flying General Aviation from Canada to the United States can be an elaborate process. This post will cover what you need to do in order to file all the necessary paperwork to land in the USA and clear customs and immigration with…
A recent discussion with a fellow pilot had me going down a rabbit hole to find an answer to a seemingly simple question. In Canada every IFR flight must be filed with an alternate airport, regardless of the weather forecast at your destination airport. This is not the same as in the United States with…
“Hey! Wait! I got a new complaint. Forever in debt to your priceless advice.” Screams Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Here is some priceless advice on how to coordinate special flights with Nav Canada. The pandemic has thrown a lot of wrenches in people’s Valentines Day plans. No longer are we able to spend hundreds of…
Checking into my AirBnB on Sunday night, I took the opportunity to do some more research about this potential purchase. It’s always best to do your due diligence when buying something as complex as an aircraft. The seller and I have been friends for a while, even business partners at one point. Still, that’s no…
Looking back at a post from over ten years ago has me reporting that my dream aircraft to buy was the Grumman Cheetah. A great low wing aircraft with a cool sliding canopy that allows you to fly with it open. A lot has changed in ten years, but the goal has remained the same:…
It’s great being back in the pilot’s seat again. I’ve started flying in San Francisco, and boy-oh-boy, it’s nothing like back in Toronto. Today’s flight started around 4pm. The weather was great, not a cloud in the sky (at least east of the Santa Cruz mountains). After a standard pre-flight briefing with the instructor, we…
During a bike tour of Portland, OR I noticed a helicopter landing on top of a nearby building. Our tour guide mentioned that this was Oregon’s only public use heliport. It’s located on top of a parking structure that was built in 1989. There is enough room for four rotorcraft to park. Talk about a…