Planning a floatplane trip into Canada and was wondering if anybody could answer my questions. If I land on Crane Lake in MN and taxi over to Sand Point CJD6 in Canada to clear customs do I still need to file eAPIS paperwork? I would be going across the border like a boat so do I clear customs like a boat? And vise versa for going back into the US.

I have researched it on the AOPA website and know how to cross if I was flying but it seems easier if I just taxi across the border. I am also getting the customs sticker/decal which I know I'll need.

Thanks

There is a cross border airport in the Mtn West, where you just taxi across to clear. The easy way to answer your question is call both Customs locations you are asking about and ask the officers.

Good point, i think I'll do that. There's also an airport like that in MN/Canada.

in Pt Hardy, they just sent the cop out to look at the plane. No big deal at all.

I've been to the Crane Lake and Sand Point many times. I havent looked on a map, but even if you can get there by water, that's a long taxi. You need to do eapis by air but sand point is the only port of entry in Canada where you don't have to give them a phone call 2 hours before getting there - you just taxi up to the dock.

For the 20-30 min taxi, I'd just fill out the Eapis. It's easy peasy to do.

Garth

Thanks, good to know.

As was said in another post-make life easy on yourself. Pissd off customs officers are NOT fun to deal with. Call ahead and ask them what they,want and where. Get the officers name as a reference if something goes sideways. I always contact the station with a courtesy call before I come to let them know I'm coming. Especially on floats because its a kinda non normal deal.

I will repeat everything Gear said. I can't imagine trying to taxi all the way to Sandpoint, not sure if it is possible. In and out, both US and Canada Customs on Crane lake is as easy as it gets, you don't even have to call ahead, just show up, they are both very laid back. Eapis is a pain, but once you have done it a time or two, not a big deal.

My one suggestion is to enter the coordinates to Sandpoint in your GPS, take a look at it on Google Earth to become familiar with it's location. Sandpoint is not all that easy to spot the first time you go there, it is on a point surrounded by trees, the north side (that I normally use) is in a cove with a large dock system, the south side of the point also has a dock system, but not as elaborate. You may have to taxi around a bit before you can dock as a boat/boats may be in your way as they clear Customs. I have never seen the place very busy (half the time nobody is there clearing Customs), any wait will be minimal.

Steve

Thanks Steve, I'll make use to punch in the cordinates and check it out on google earth.

Forgot to ask Bhawk, what lake are you headed to?

Steve

Not sure yet still in the planning phase, but probably with in a couple of hours of the border. I'm not packing a boat or raft so I have been looking at google earth for lakes with rivers or creeks that run through them in order to hopefully have better fishing from shore.

I haven't ruled out an outpost cabin. The only problem though is I don't want a full American package with everything included. I will be bringing everything to be self sufficient except for a boat but it may be nice to have a boat and cabin to stay in.

I have done a few fishing trips up there but they were to drive in places. So this will be the first fly myself in and fish/camp.

I'm open to suggestions or any useful info.

Here is a list of tourist operators to check out http://noto.ca/regular_member_list Some of these have remote outpost cabins, probably a good place to start. I will PM you some do's and do not's I am aware of.

Steve

old Sand Point pics:

Invest in a CanPass. It opens up a lot of options and I think I have seen a Canadian customs agent twice since I started using CanPass years ago.

TD

I cleared into the US on floats at Oroville Washington last summer on my way to the AOPA regional gathering in Bremerton. Cleared on the Fraser River alongside Vancouver Intl on the way home.

Bhawk wrote:Not sure yet still in the planning phase, but probably with in a couple of hours of the border. I'm not packing a boat or raft so I have been looking at google earth for lakes with rivers or creeks that run through them in order to hopefully have better fishing from shore.

I haven't ruled out an outpost cabin. The only problem though is I don't want a full American package with everything included. I will be bringing everything to be self sufficient except for a boat but it may be nice to have a boat and cabin to stay in.

I have done a few fishing trips up there but they were to drive in places. So this will be the first fly myself in and fish/camp.

I'm open to suggestions or any useful info.

Suggestion -

Please post some photos of your machine on floats

This is a picture of the plane from last year. I tried loading some better pictures from my computer but it seems to be in melt down mode so I'm stuck using the iPad.

Took my trip to Canada and thanks to the advice and PM's had a great time.

Filling up at Scott's before crossing the border

Camping on a lake filled with Walleye and Northerns

Nice bay with great camping