Thread: FAA Allows Overflight of Canada & Mexico During Landings

I just got a note from my friend that the FAA has issued a Notam which allows over flight into Canada and Mexico for VFR GA aircraft which are in the pattern for landing at airports near borders. Here's an excerpt from the Fed regulation which will change effective 8/15/09. This pertain to following reg: http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/9-2786.html

Aircraft registered in the U.S. are also authorized to operate VFR in airport traffic pattern areas of United States Airports near the United States Border. However, if the aircraft departs the airport VFR pattern at any time and transits Canadian, Mexican, or International airspace enroute to another airport, the requirements of paragraphs E. and F apply.

Dick

We do it all the time in Douglas, AZ if you have to land from the south to the north. The end of the strip is almost up to the border fence.

Roger, looks like the TSA is being reasonable about the border overflights during landings at your airport. Not the story here at Grosse Ile (KONZ). One stop was reported to have taken place where a TSA King Air blocked the offending aircraft on the taxiway and the TSA personnel had weapons drawn. I recall getting an email about this TSA stop from a friend who flies out of KONZ but could not find verification of this on any official website before writing this. Last year, my friend attended an EAA informational meeting with guests from Windsor, Canada ATC and Detroit Metro ATC. Each party acknowledged that there were overflights of GA aircraft during landings under VFR flight but that this wasn't a big deal if the aircraft were in voice communication and had Mode C transponders turned on. During this discussion, a TSA person stood up and interrupted the meeting, identified himself and informed everyone that there would be no slack given for overflights and all who ventured into Canadian airspace and then came back in the U.S. would be detained and dealt with.

Dick