Re: Toronto Commander Clinic
Peter, getting yousome good contacts who hangar there.
Regarding eAPIS, once set up in the system which takes 10 - 15 minutes of entering stuff, it only takes a couple of minutes to edit for each new flight . REally not a big deal at all after you have done it a couple of times,
BUT ... always ask CANPASS when you call ((888) 226-7277) the hours of the airport you want to fly into. NOT always as published. And some airports are much different than others, but that may depend on the day and the agent. I think I mentioned at Oshawa getting a virtual stripsearch. Windsor is a bit overly thorough. London, they usually just send you on without even talking to you! My last trip through Waterloo-Kitchener was a breeze. 5 minutes.
Now, on returning through Port Huron MI on the US side ... what a TOTAL PITA. So we pull up and park as instructed when we called. There were no signs, just a customs flag so ... well ... anyway, sat for 10 minutes with the engine running, at least 100 feet from the door but did not want to shut down in case we had to move. I called on unicom several times. We could not see in the windows --mirrored glass. Finally called the port on the cell phone and they said, "They are there!" Well crap. you cannot just get out and walk around (tried that once.) So I shut off the engine. Immediately they opened the door, I mean within 2 seconds and walked my way. I asked. They said, "we are not allowed to open the door with the engine running. Well, they do at Detroit City and Willow Run. Whatever, the bozos could have cracked the door open 4 inches and waived. THEN I did get pissed. I heard someone call on the Unicom, on the radio the guy had on his freakin' shoulder. I asked, "did neither of you hear me calling for customs and asking if I was in the correct place?" They junior officer looked to the senior officer with a strange expression. Totally asinine. One guy was nice but his boss was a little prick. He had the radio. so totally unnecessary to cop an attitude with a taxpayer who is following the rules to a T.
By the way ... IF you go IFR, the rule is if you go more than 30nm, you are supposed to file VFR Flight Plan., Well, found out that most locals don't but seemed us being foreigners, we had better. If you do not call to cancel they call QUICK! Not like the US. So we sure to cancel. We are 1.800.WXBRIEF in the US. Canada is 1.866.WXBRIEF. That is very convenient and helpful, so much that I am surprised two country's bureaucrats could think of that and agree. (I have worked in Canada a lot and they have bureaucrats that can rival ours step for step. I guess that is universal. At least they aren't looking to have their palms greased as some south of the border are.)