It's actually really easy to bring long guns to Canada, declare the gun, pay the fee, fill out the form, then carry on about your day.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5044-eng.html#P010

Thousands of American hunters come here every year, and bring their guns.

Handguns take a little more paperwork, but it's still possible to bring them in (as long as they don't meet the definition of a prohibited weapon in Canada). You must comply with Canada's safe transportation laws though, you can forget about using one for protection.

BCPilotguy wrote:It's actually really easy to bring long guns to Canada, declare the gun, pay the fee, fill out the form, then carry on about your day.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5044-eng.html#P010

Thousands of American hunters come here every year, and bring their guns.

Handguns take a little more paperwork, but it's still possible to bring them in (as long as they don't meet the definition of a prohibited weapon in Canada). You must comply with Canada's safe transportation laws though, you can forget about using one for protection.

There is a small tax for transit gun ownership (30.00 CND). But, reasonable for how well organized the CBSA is.

http://canada.usembassy.gov/mobile//traveling_to_canada/bringing-weapons-into-canada.html

We land on roads all the time. No one ever says a word about it. Try not to be stupid about it though. It's easy to see for miles and check for traffic most places around here.

This is a great thread! I have landed on a few rural dirt roads out in my area for engine out practice and well, you know, fun... figured it was a massive no-no interesting to see, while it may be frowned upon, it's probably not quite as big of a deal as I thought... guess that depends on who sees you doing it It's great to see there are still some places in this country/world that don't make big issue of it. Isn't it completely legal to do in Alaska? as in planes actually have the right of way and such?

A freshly graveled road with a lot of crown would worry me about directional control in any kind of crosswind or if a wheel caught a hole or something. A layer of 1" roadstone can be like ball bearings and on a crowned road - even in a car - can make one a little nervous about sliding into a ditch.

jnmeade wrote:A freshly graveled road with a lot of crown would worry me about directional control in any kind of crosswind or if a wheel caught a hole or something. A layer of 1" roadstone can be like ball bearings and on a crowned road - even in a car - can make one a little nervous about sliding into a ditch.

A car uses its tires for directional control. An airplane uses its tires to hold it off the ground so we can use the airplane more than once.

Granted we may use our tires for directional control and hitting something may effect directional control. But that's not why they are there. IMHO.

My runway has been straight ice as of late. And operating on and off it in a crosswind with positive directional control is not an issue. And the tires are providing none of it.

Obviously an extreme wind would be different. But if it was blowing that hard we'd either stay home or put the wind on the nose rather than the wing.

I treat landing on a road like any other off airport landing. There are plenty of hazards. Even if the surface isn't one of them.

A wet ice runway, strong crosswind, and airplane is actually a fun combo. Power does your steering for you, and sliding sideways is how you go.

Gump

I landed my ski strip recently in one of the strongest cross winds I ever landed my place at, wheels or skis. All I did a bit different was aim about 40' to the right of my 30' wide ramp I need to hit to get up to the hangar, it worked out perfect. I agree with Utah Maule, we have a rudder and aero controls, short of stopping quick directional control isn't much of an issue regardless of the surface. In fact, I hate surfaces with lots of grip more, like a rough asphalt strip, they have no give. Give me a slippery surface anytime.

I landed the county dirt road above my old property, which dead ends at the ski area and is dead in the summer, for around 10 or 12 years before I started landing on my own property once I got over my fear of landing up a steep slope. My technique in the years I did it was to start watching for cars while still miles away, as far as I could see anyway. If it was a neighbor, I'd go ahead and land, before or after they went by of course, they didn't give a damn. If it was a strange car, I'd lurk off to the side by the ridge and wait until they came back down. Point being, in all those years no one saw me do it that I know of, I never got called out on it, by the county I mean, and I sure as hell never asked them. No harm no foul, if a tree falls in the forest..... that being said roads are my last resort, I prefer to take my chances with some land owner or whoever before I road land. But when the need arises I don't feel like a criminal doing it, I just do it with no one around.

PM me that location when you get a chance Rob!

My limited experience... Roads aren't as straight as they look.

Fun, though.

albravo wrote:Thanks everyone.

I'm pleasantly surprised that common sense seems to be the guide. After reading regulations for the past couple weeks I thought it would be much more tightly controlled.

This really helps me get excited about exploring on wheels instead of floats.

Now I have to figure out if they really mean it when they say you need authority from the governing body (aka The Minister) to carry weapons or ammunition.

I fly helicopters for a living and we often land on back roads / forestry roads... I'm not sure why a plane would be any different - just apply some common sense. As for carrying guns and ammo, guns are no problem and ammo is exempt under TDG regs in limited amounts so unless you're carrying a significant amount its no big deal.

They sure do offer a challenge. Watch for fences, signs trees, or like in the third picture, sun flowers and power lines. Looks for the poles. I usually try to land with enough room to takeoff. I turned around on one and ended up bending my tail when the tailwheel hit something. I usually don't stick around long enough to ask questions.