Has anyone found a way around the Canadian restriction of flying under Light Sport rules through Canadian air space to get to Alaska from the lower 48? I have a commercial license with an instrument rating and would like to fly my certified Taylorcraft to Alaska from Montana. Apparently the Canadians do not want me in their air space while flying under light sport rules, (drivers license medical). Has anyone found a way to do this?

Personally, I'd love to have you in oyr airspace. The more BCPers the better. Unfortunately the feds don't agree. As far as I know there is no way around it, but sure wish they would allow LS into Canada. Maybe we could trade the allowance of that for the allowance of us in the homeowner maintained category to fly our planes into the US?
David

I know... If there's a mishap, they'll get you. I think. But a certificated T-Cart doesn't look like what most non-aviation folks would consider as a light sport airplane.

In 40 years of wandering in and out of Canada and along the Alcan, I don't think I've ever been asked to show a medical certificate. Sometimes (rarely) my pilot's certificate, and never my restricted radio station license.

Gump

GumpAir wrote:I know... If there's a mishap, they'll get you. I think. But a certificated T-Cart doesn't look like what most non-aviation folks would consider as a light sport airplane.

In 40 years of wandering in and out of Canada and along the Alcan, I don't think I've ever been asked to show a medical certificate. Sometimes (rarely) my pilot's certificate, and never my restricted radio station license.

Gump

That's been my experience as well. As a matter of fact, I have never seen a Canadian Customs officer at an airport. Only talked to CANPASS on the tele.

Not that I am advising you to do something illegal in Canada either mind you. Ain't worth it.

No, it's not worth it. Murphy's Law is real specific in that regard. But what is the issue with Light Sport in Canada? No medical, or the aircraft itself?

Gump

Canada doesn't allow flight without a valid medical certificate. Therefore, light sport pilots do not qualify. Also, if the third class medical exemption ever gets approved, non of those pilots will be able to fly in Canada either.

But in Canada aren't ultralights allowed to be up to 1200# piloted with out a medical?

Av8r3400 wrote:But in Canada aren't ultralights allowed to be up to 1200# piloted with out a medical?

Nope, as a minimum, they are required to have a valid class 4 medical. Some class 4 medicals can be "self certified". Others have to signed by a family medical practitioner. If the holder has falsified his document by signing that he has none of the above conditions, then his medical would be considered invalid the same as a class 3 holder that lies to his AME or fails to report a reportable medical condition.

This link could possibly answer some of your questions.

http://www.bordenflyingclub.com/CMQFile ... Manual.pdf

Beamerpilot wrote:This link could possibly answer some of your questions.

http://www.bordenflyingclub.com/CMQFile ... Manual.pdf

Yeah, the answer is "Don't fly in Canada without a medical."

Can a non-citizen (say, from the US) get a (Class 4?) medical in Canada with a US private license without jeopardizing the US license, or, wanting that, can a non-Canadian get a Class 4 medical in Canada and a Canadian license? What are the requirements for, say, an ultra-light license in Canada, and what kind of aircraft are considered in the ultra-light category? Would a US experimental light sport (1320 pounds gross) be considered an ultra-light in Canada?

Do you have to make the trip up solo?
Seems to me you have found the right site to potentially find a traveling partner for the way up. Perhaps one who has a valid medical and pertinents to qualify him as pic ?


Just a thought

Rob wrote:Do you have to make the trip up solo?
Seems to me you have found the right site to potentially find a traveling partner for the way up. Perhaps one who has a valid medical and pertinents to qualify him as pic ?


Just a thought

Yes, I think that is going to be my only option. Within the light sport gross weight restrictions, however, that means no survival gear or camping gear. While I could ship some boxes to Fairbanks, it does mean that I would be in a world of hurt if I had a problem along the way. That is not a happy thought.

This issue has been an ongoing dilemma for me also. I posed the question to the EAA and the EAA forums quite awhile ago and ended up with the same answer as you are getting on this site. Not possible. It is also the good 'ol US of A that has the problem with you 'coming back into the US' without a valid medical. Yep, they could care less if you leave without one but damned if they will let you back in. Granted, you may not get checked but as you state, if you do get checked and found without one, you will be up $hit creek.
There are a lot of guys here in northern MN that used to fly their planes across the border to their fishing camps. Now, the majority of them have gone Sport Pilot and have either sold their planes or no longer cross the border. I do know of a couple that have family members shuttle the plane over for them, then it is left in Canada for the summer so they can fly around to their fishing spots. Come fall the 'legal' flyer brings it back to the US. Just another stupid ass reg. that the bureaucrats have dreamt up that do nothing for safety...but it gives them a reason to get paid.
There aren't enough of us guys that want to cross the border without medicals for any of the 'letter' organizations to do anything about it. As far as I am concerned, those of us that have been flying previously on a PPL or greater should have been grandfathered. Those new Sport Pilots should have to get a sign-off after 'x' amount of hours under their belt to enable them to fly into or across Canada. Anyone with a valid DL can do it so why can't a licensed pilot?