Major Canadian 100LL Fuel Shortage

Please visit the “Customs” page for detailed Canadian border crossing requirements.

Canada Overflight

If one is overflying Canada, say Haines, Alaska to McCarthy, Alaska via Hwy 3, Kluane Lake, White River, … one –MUST– file a flight plan.  I continue to see numerous incorrect references/forum posts where pilots say they “never file a overflight flight plan.”  Here is the relevant paragraph from a PDF that AOPA puts out in cooperation with Nav Canada:

“U.S. and Canada permit aircraft to overfly their territory and subsequently land in the country of departure without requiring Customs notification or filing an eAPIS report.

Examples of this are a flight from Detroit to Buffalo or Fredericton to Montreal during which you overfly foreign territory but do not land.

The following are required for overflights:

a) A VFR or IFR flight plan must be filed and activated to cross the border.
b) A transponder code unique to your flight must be obtained prior to crossing the border unless you have a waiver for no transponder.
c) You must be communicating by radio with a controlling agency (FAA or Nav Canada) when you cross the border.

Failure to do any of these actions may result in interception.”

Here is a link to the PDF

Note: The flight plan is filed with U.S. Flight Service, NOT with Nav Canada.

Mandatory Frequencies & Zone(s)

Pilots continue to send me emails where they were confused by the use of “Mandatory Frequencies” and Zones at airports in Canada.  Basically, a Mandatory Frequency, or M on the chart, or MF in the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) appears as noted below.

Some airports with MF are attended; Some are not.  Dawson Creek, for instance, is “manned” by controllers out of Peace River.  Some manned stations aren’t staffed 24/7.  Check the CFS for complete information on every airport.  Some airports are staffed by ATC personnel; Some by Flight Service Specialists (FSS). “ATC will direct you while FSS provides information, so more responsibility on pilot to watch for traffic; Communicate and be aware of where you are.” (Thanks to folks out of Ft St John for clarification).

There are three ways to note the requirement for use of a Mandatory Frequency and the presence of a “Zone.”  1) For instance, the dashed blue line enclosing the pink(ish) “zone” around Fort Nelson, seen here (click on image for larger view):

2) Note the “M” on the chart for the radio frequency at Fort Nelson.  Image below (click for larger view)

3) Third way to note use of mandatory frequency is by consulting the CFS (Canadian Chart Supplement), as seen in the below image (again, click for larger view).

Canada Flight Supplement

Here is a link to the current CFS: link here

When looking at specific airport information in the CFS, there is an entry labeled PF, which stands for “Public Facilities.”  What the abbreviation stands for is buried in the CFS.  To save you looking, here is an image explaining the abbreviations (link here)

Travel to Canada: Requirements for COVID-19

All the details on this Canada Official Travel Site (link here).  Short story, “All federal border testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements ended on October 1, 2022”

ArriveCAN App

No longer required for entry to Canada.

Canadian Border Crossing: Personal Updates

See notes on the bottom of the “Customs” page.

Transport & NAV Canada

“Flying To Canada: What Pilots Should Know”…a one page summary with many links here

How to get weather updates by province: link here

Main Canada weather information page with many links to various displays (here)

Another “What you need to know” overview by Nav Canada here

Nav Canada Facilities overview (link here)

Canadian Flight Rules (lot of information to wade thru.  Basically very similar to the U.S.) link.

AOPA offers a summary of Canadian flight info (basically everything in the above links): AOPA info

Canada: VFR Over-The-Top

One question oft asked is whether one can fly VFR over-the-top in Canada.  Under certain circumstances: Yes.  Here is a link to the Canadian Airspace Regulations.

Please note, as mentioned in this AOPA article, there is a distinct difference between “Over-The-Top” and “VFR On-Top.”  Read more here.

Misc Canadian Info

Non-Resident (Canada) Firearm Declaration Form (download PDF link)

Pre-Flight Briefings & Flight Plans–misc information (link)

Canadian Fuel Prices

Canada by province link

Some (many?) Canadian airports have weekend “call out” fees if you want fuel.  Always check the CFS and/or call ahead if there is any doubt regarding fuel.

Specific Airport Comments (alphabetized)

Numerous airports seem to have (random?) fuel availability issues.  Best to always call ahead & check NOTAMS.

Atlin: New self-serve fuel farm and Wi-Fi available in new facilities.  Image here.  Pilot report July 2, 2023: “Be sure to check with the Atlin Airport District Association https://atlinairport.ca/  prior to your visit. You will probably talk with Finn or her husband Norm, who is often on the field. Both very welcoming and appreciative of the visit.”

Bella Bella: Last fuel (for wheel planes) headed Northbound is Bella Bella CBBC (link to airport info)…near Shearwater, BC

Beaver Creek: Discovery Yukon Lodge (link) about 26NM S of Beaver Creek is reported as an excellent overnight stop with home cooked meals.

(Alaska) Annette Island PANT runway likely no longer usable.  Link with phone # to verify here

Carcross: Tie down on East side of runway toward the North end.  Camp by plane or perhaps there is camping at an area used by skydivers at various times at the end of the runway. As noted on the Routes page, Carcross has an excellent coffee shop & bistro.  Check on-line for operating days/hours.

Coutts CEP4 (Ross): Border crossing open sunrise-to-sunset.  Well maintained grass field.  No crosswind runway!  When landing for customs, taxi to FAR East end, by the chain link fence.  If you see the tie-down anchors you are in the correct location.  You can’t see the custom’s facilities from the runway.  If no one is there to meet you call the custom’s # 888-226-7277

Dawson Creek.  Grass available as desired on SE quadrant.  You can also reportedly use the East gravel taxiway at your discretion.  Nice pilot shelter/room with shower inside “tower” like facility (entry around the corner on far end).

Dease Lake: “There is an FBO there. 100LL available normal hours and by call out. Phone 250 617-1482 can also text. Alternate number in CFS. No self serve. Hefty charge for call out. Camped on field in gravel area south of the terminal building.  They are trying to improve the airport to get it certified. They get 3 flights a week. Access to the terminal building is by code. Has toilets, power, Wi-Fi and land phone. No cell service anywhere in 100 miles. Water in the terminal is not potable. Make Wi-Fi calls or use land line. Ramp people friendly and helpful. ” Thank you Andrew R for this update on 7/16/24

Finbow (just SE of Ft Ware along the Trench Route): Only about 900′ usable due to brush.  Careful assessment before landing!  Report on 6/20/23: “…landed at Finbow to add fuel bags and it was in pretty good condition considering it being “closed”. Just had a ~3-4ft shrubs and brush under the wings.”

Fort Graham: Apparently 90 octane MOGAS is available on an emergency basis at Fort Graham CBW3.  Contact Finlay River Outfitters (link) for more information.

Fort Nelson.  Can use grass infield/North side of runway 8.  Fort Nelson now has self-serve fuel (May 2022).  Woodlands Inn & Suites has free shuttle to/from airport.  Helicopter outfit has waiting room for pax where there are restrooms==can get out of the rain.

Fort St John CYXJ: If you plan to tie-down and/or camp overnight here is an image of where to do so: (link here)

Golden has a very nice pilot shelter, fuel and friendly folks.  Parachuting ops at the the field.  (Pilot report 5/20/23).

Lethbridge: “At this time (Dec 2023), the international landing fees have been waived. Since Covid we have not had customs operating out of the terminal building you will have to contact them directly to make arrangements through CANPASS. You can contact them directly at 1-888-226-7277 or Coutts Border Services at 1-800-461-9999″…from email received from Lethbridge admin & report by Patrick W (thank you!).

McBride has self-service fuel.  To access one has to call and # listed in the window of a small cabin/shack on the S end of the field.  That wasn’t obvious to me the first time I was there–I looked around for quite a while before seeing the sign with the phone #.

McKenzie CYZY update July 2023: 100LL now available.  Fuel available Tue-Sat 8-4 local0  Fuel available Sun & Monday noon to 8 pm local time.  $75 call out fee other hours.  Call  250-997-3754 or after hours (& Sunday/Monday) 778-582-7767.  Apparently whether there is a porta-potty available for campers is an on/off/maybe kind of thing for the FBO or city–sigh.  As of mid June 2023 no restroom facilities available after hours.

Prince George: Avoid Prince George for fuel.  Much more expensive than other nearby airports.  Even the fuel truck staff advised me to only put on minimum needed to get to next closest fuel stop.  There is a surcharge (!!) if one takes more than 49.9 liters too (last time I was there)!  Next closest: for example McBride CAV4, Vanderhoof CAU4, Mackenzie CYZY (As of late Sept 2021 there is 100LL fuel now at Mackenzie).

Prince Rupert: I’m told Prince Rupert CYPR does not have fuel on the field.  Go into town for MoGas.  Contact info here.  Also check Canadian Flight Supplement.

Quesnel: Camping is at the south end, with a porta potty against the west fence.

Smithers: No food available on/near airport.  No taxi to town.  Be self-sufficient!

Toad River Lodge:  They have a gravel strip just across the highway and there is a taxiway onto the highway directly across from the west entrance of the lodge.  The lodge was redone in 2021 with nice cabins, lodge, and camp sites. Even for folks needing fuel in Watson Lake or Ft. Nelson, Toad River (about halfway between) does not require a $100 round trip taxi ride (as does Watson Lake)! The restaurant was reasonably good and very clean.  I think they offer a really good option for folks traveling that want a hotel or camp site, but also want food available. Car gas is sold there also if you want to run auto fuel.  (update fall 2023 by George C.)

Valemount has self-service fuel.  Instructions inside the pilot shelter (which has a shower).  Door code (last time I was there) is 0243 (Military emergency freq).

Vanderhoof has self-service fuel.

Watson Lake.  Do not land on the abandoned runway!  Big tire planes are able to use grass–don’t announce such.  Simply land on the grass adjacent to the main runway and taxi in on the main runway.  As always, use the grass at your own risk.  No longer water by the gazebo (report 07/16/24) .   No water in the terminal building.  Suggest having a MSR-type water filter pump or carry a MSR Domedary Bag (link) with water from your last stop if planning to camp.  Here is an image of where the Gazebo is for camping.  Watson Lake fuel questions?  During the day try 867-536-2905 or after hours try 867-334-4724.  Limited amount of lodging in town.  Taxi from airport ($50 Canadian ea way?) with limited operating hours (e.g. you can get stuck in town with nowhere to stay).

Whetstone CEQ4.  Customs only open 9-5 Monday thru Friday.  Taxi to far West end.  Park facing whichever customs you want to clear, e.g. if Canadian Customs then point your nose to the Canadian custom’s booth.

Whitehorse: Tie-down at Whitehorse is, I believe, down toward the threshold of Runway 01.  Check with Ground for parking instructions.  Though there are tie-down spots by the self-serve fuel, I’m told those are temporary (e.g. for walking across the road for lunch; Not for overnight).  Again, check with Ground.  If you ask the tower, they will let you land in the grass infield (if you so desire).  The “Airport Chalet” restaurant across the road from the airport reportedly has awesome breakfast skillets!

Sundre self-serve is now available.  The city took over the fuel concession.

Canadian Flight Information Centers & RCO’s

Canada has both contract weather offices (see above) and Community Aerodrome Radio Station offices, or CARS.  CARS are generally smaller, perhaps 1 person, offices.  Example: Whitehorse has Flight Information Service office whereas Watson Lake has a CARS office.  AOPA’s Alaska Regional Manager, Tom George, expands on this, “CARS provide local information over the radio, and in person.  However CARS will refer pilots to use the phone for weather briefings from the Flight Info centers.”

ADS-B in Canada

Not required (yet).  Good, short summary of the latest ADS-B info for Canada by EAA here with link to longer NavCanada article here.

1090ES required

From the AOPA new item (link): “Nav Canada has stated its intent to require 1090ES ADS-B Out equipage with antenna diversity, but rulemaking has not been completed. Nav Canada will use the Aireon space-based ADS-B system, of which it is an owner.”

Space-Based System

Apparently this will require an ADS-B out antenna on top of your airplane.  Here’s an article in AvWeb indicating the U.S. equipment will not work in Canada (link).

RCMP Firearms Information

Here’s a link to the RCMP site which discusses firearms regulations in Canada.  If you plan to cross the border carrying appropriate firearm(s), this is the page to read up on.   You will also need to fill out the Non-Resident Firearms Declaration Form 5589 (link here) and, if needed, the 5590(e) Continuation Sheet (link here).

Interesting pilot report today (5/19/2023).  Pilot has semi-auto rifle with several magazines.  Legal to cross into Canada with, but…Pilot called to get approval to clear customs at Cranbrook (AOE/15 airport).  Canada would not approve clearing there as there was no custom’s agent available today (any day?) to verify rifle magazines (must have less than 10 rounds per mag).  Pilot got creative.   Airport manager at Eureka (Pat Jacobs 406-889-5174) suggested drive airport car to US border station, walk to Canada, get Canadian customs to walk back to car, inspect rifle & mags, get approval, then was able to call Canada customs and then get approval to land at Cranbrook.  Bit of a circus involved in walking back-forth U.S. – Canadian border several times, but got it done!

Another July 2023 pilot report: Though pilot had permit to bring Glock into Canada, pilot did not have the pistol in a locked hard-sided case.  Customs returned him to the U.S. to purchase a hard-sided case.  Having the case, he was cleared into Canada.

Canada Border Services Agency: Import and export a firearm or weapon into Canada

Read here for detailed information supplementing the above RCMP info.

Misc

Fee Based Service

Canada’s flight services (towers, weather advisories, flight plan filing, etc) are run by Nav Canada.  There is a fee for their service.  You will receive at least one invoice (per calendar quarter) for your flight.  Invoice will be to the address your aircraft is registered to in the U.S. mail.  The invoice will be in Canadian funds.  Tip: Look up that day’s USD to Canadian dollar exchange rate (link) and send them a check for the amount in U.S. dollars.  You can’t pay by credit card.

Radio Operation in Canada

In Canada the backcountry frequency generally is 123.2 (like 122.9 in the U.S.)

In-route position reports are generally broadcast on 126.7.  If you monitor this frequency  you will often hear position reports  You will quickly get a feel for what’s appropriate use of the frequency.

Mandatory Frequency

Some Canadian airports, even if they do not have a control tower, still have mandatory frequencies, shown as “MF” in the COMM section of the Canadian Flight Supplement.

If there is a “MF” listed for a Canadian airport in the CFS, note that you are required to call them on frequency prior to entering their control zone.  Upon departure you will also be asked to contact them when leaving the zone.

This section from Wikipedia explains this a bit more.  “An airport with a mandatory frequency (MF) is an airport which does not have a control tower but still requires arriving and departing aircraft to communicate with other aircraft or a radio operator on a published frequency.

Mandatory frequency airports are rare in the United States, one example being Ketchikan International Airport (link), but they are common in other countries.  Often, an MF or MTAF airport is one with scheduled passenger service but insufficient traffic to support a control tower. If there is a flight service specialist monitoring the frequency, the specialist will give pilots advisories about traffic and weather.  They may relay IFR clearances from enroute controllers, but cannot give clearances”

Flight Plans vs Flight Itinerary

Canada does have a requirement for flight plans–or flight itineraries.  A flight itinerary is when you let a trusted party (fellow pilot, office mate, family member) know of your flight plans.  If you’re at a towered airport they frequently ask you if you’re on a flight plan.  Hence, prior to taxi at a towered airport be prepared: Either file a ICAO flight plan or reply that you’re on a flight itinerary.

Flying In/Around Nat’l Parks

Here are recommendations regarding flights in the Yukon & BC from Parks Canada link

Other Canadian Flying Websites

Yukon Flying…stories, photo/video, classifieds, history (link here)