Hi Canadian Gurus,

Planning to fly from KCLM (Port Angeles, USA) to CYQQ (Comox, Canada) for custom clearance. Has anyone comments and/or guidance for these AOEs?

Thank you .

I believe Comox is a Canadian military base. I could be wrong, but I would go to Nanaimo (CYCD) for CDN Customs. When landing to the north stay over the water.

Ron

I assume you are continuing north after clearing?

Port Hardy is a good place to clear. Most of the time you just call in and they tell you to write down a number and continue on.

Comox is an air force base, is it listed as a customs stop?

Nanaimo or Campbell River would be my vote, not that you asked.

Ditto the comments about Comox.
I've cleared before at Nanaimo-- handy, esp if you're continuing north up the inside of Vancouver Island.
Way less busy than Victoria airport.
Not sure why your coast route doglegs east to Pt Angeles then north.
Far as I know, you don't have to check in with US Customs before leaving.
I'd fly direct Quillayute -> Nanaimo (or wherever).
Coming home though, P.A. would be a good customs stop.
Local customs phone number is 360-457-4311.
Here's a link to the Port of P.A. customs info webpage.

http://www.portofpa.com/Index.aspx?NID=128

Thank you for the guidance.

Comox is listed as an AOE and PPR. But, I guess it's not a good idea to ask.

Namaimo is my first choice and that is what I will file most likely.

Plan is to keep flying North to Ketchikan. July ETD, Oregon. Amphibs installed.

Plan "B"...

Notes:

* Flight turning inland from KUIL to KCLM is to re fuel.
* Will be using 1/2 fuel tanks on amphibs.

Are you going up with floats or wheels?

175 magnum wrote:Are you going up with floats or wheels?

Planning on amphibious floats.

If you decide to take some time in Nanaimo, it's a wonderful place. Some 14 years ago, I had to weather over there in my 19' boat for several days (read about it in my book, "The Ultimate Small Boat Adventure", still available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.) --the Georgia Strait was too rough to cross. We've been there by larger boat several times since then. Last summer, the day after we got there and had planned to go on to the Gulf Islands, Marilyn asked if we could stay over another night. Sure--and then we stayed over a third night. We really love the town.

FWIW, best fish and chips anywhere (I really mean "anywhere") are at Trollers, a little place literally on the docks in the boat basin. Also good food across at the dock at Protection Island--a tiny ferry boat makes several runs every day. And of course, you can't go to Nanaimo without getting a delicious Nanaimo Bar, a chocolate, creme, coconut concoction that will make you gain weight with one bite. There's a terrific intra-city bus service--I don't know if it goes to the airport, which is actually about 7 miles south of the city. On a rainy day there 3 years ago, we spent the day touring on the bus.

Cary

Cary wrote:If you decide to take some time in Nanaimo, it's a wonderful place. Some 14 years ago, I had to weather over there in my 19' boat for several days (read about it in my book, "The Ultimate Small Boat Adventure", still available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.) --the Georgia Strait was too rough to cross. We've been there by larger boat several times since then. Last summer, the day after we got there and had planned to go on to the Gulf Islands, Marilyn asked if we could stay over another night. Sure--and then we stayed over a third night. We really love the town.

FWIW, best fish and chips anywhere (I really mean "anywhere") are at Trollers, a little place literally on the docks in the boat basin. Also good food across at the dock at Protection Island--a tiny ferry boat makes several runs every day. And of course, you can't go to Nanaimo without getting a delicious Nanaimo Bar, a chocolate, creme, coconut concoction that will make you gain weight with one bite. There's a terrific intra-city bus service--I don't know if it goes to the airport, which is actually about 7 miles south of the city. On a rainy day there 3 years ago, we spent the day touring on the bus.

Cary

Hi Cary,

Thank you for the insight to Nanaimo. I known the Coastal weather may keep me in various places longer than planned. What is your book about? I love sailing and adventure stories.

Three rules I have learned on the Coast; (1) Don't push the weather, (2) Don't push the weather and (3) Don't push the weather.

Do you know of a Canadian named Brent Swain? He designed and helped build the hull on my 37' cutter that is moored in Hawaii. Very talented shipwright.

Cheers from Kirra, Australia Mate!

This link may help. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/aoe-eng.html
You can click on airports of entry and seaplane entry ports. I do not believe Comox is listed there. Comox is just a weird place, Courtney right next door is a wonderful place and they have about the cheapest gas on the island and their hose reaches both land an float planes. I think Nanaimo harbour might be a good place to clear as customs is right there. Actually they are all good just don't plan on going to Comox , we want you to have a good Canadian experience.

175 magnum wrote:This link may help. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/aoe-eng.html
You can click on airports of entry and seaplane entry ports. I do not believe Comox is listed there. Comox is just a weird place, Courtney right next door is a wonderful place and they have about the cheapest gas on the island and their hose reaches both land an float planes. I think Nanaimo harbour might be a good place to clear as customs is right there. Actually they are all good just don't plan on going to Comox , we want you to have a good Canadian experience.

Cheers 175 Magnum,

I believe the Comox idea is not a good thing, eh? Thank you for the further guidance! Nanaimo is my choice for AOE from what I am reading so far. I have a lot to learn about the Great White North!

G'day,
Ted

A correction to my previous posts, below is a new flight plan (the flight plans posted above are deleted). Nanaimo, CYCD seems to be the best location for AOE on wheels.

Thank you folks for the help!

The route your are following never really went White this year. Recommended survival gear for your planned route is a good poncho, rubber boots and keep your ass wipe in a ziplock bag.
KenW

8GCBC wrote:* Flight turning inland from KUIL to KCLM is to re fuel. * Will be using 1/2 fuel tanks on amphibs.

Didn't think about fuel. Coming up the coast from Oregon, there should be fuel available at Hoquiam KHQM. They might say there's fuel at Quillayute KUIL but don't believe it-- there are pumps there (thanks to a stupid gov't grant) but they don't actually put fuel in them. Nothing at Forks S18 either. But barring a crisis, there's plenty of gas at KCLM.

BTW you'll be calling up Navy Whidbey 118.2 for your border crossing squawk.

175 magnum wrote:The route your are following never really went White this year. Recommended survival gear for your planned route is a good poncho, rubber boots and keep your ass wipe in a ziplock bag.
KenW

"Roger That!"

Mahalo!

hotrod180 wrote:

8GCBC wrote:* Flight turning inland from KUIL to KCLM is to re fuel. * Will be using 1/2 fuel tanks on amphibs.

Didn't think about fuel. Coming up the coast from Oregon, there should be fuel available at Hoquiam KHQM. They might say there's fuel at Quillayute KUIL but don't believe it-- there are pumps there (thanks to a stupid gov't grant) but they don't actually put fuel in them. Nothing at Forks S18 either. But barring a crisis, there's plenty of gas at KCLM.

BTW you'll be calling up Navy Whidbey 118.2 for your border crossing squawk.

Thanks HotRod 180. My range is 1/3 on floats.

I am getting Stoked! There looks like a bunch of cool places "up" there.

8GCBC wrote:

Cary wrote:If you decide to take some time in Nanaimo, it's a wonderful place. Some 14 years ago, I had to weather over there in my 19' boat for several days (read about it in my book, "The Ultimate Small Boat Adventure", still available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.) --the Georgia Strait was too rough to cross. We've been there by larger boat several times since then. Last summer, the day after we got there and had planned to go on to the Gulf Islands, Marilyn asked if we could stay over another night. Sure--and then we stayed over a third night. We really love the town.

FWIW, best fish and chips anywhere (I really mean "anywhere") are at Trollers, a little place literally on the docks in the boat basin. Also good food across at the dock at Protection Island--a tiny ferry boat makes several runs every day. And of course, you can't go to Nanaimo without getting a delicious Nanaimo Bar, a chocolate, creme, coconut concoction that will make you gain weight with one bite. There's a terrific intra-city bus service--I don't know if it goes to the airport, which is actually about 7 miles south of the city. On a rainy day there 3 years ago, we spent the day touring on the bus.

Cary

Hi Cary,

Thank you for the insight to Nanaimo. I known the Coastal weather may keep me in various places longer than planned. What is your book about? I love sailing and adventure stories.

Three rules I have learned on the Coast; (1) Don't push the weather, (2) Don't push the weather and (3) Don't push the weather.

Do you know of a Canadian named Brent Swain? He designed and helped build the hull on my 37' cutter that is moored in Hawaii. Very talented shipwright.

Cheers from Kirra, Australia Mate!

The book is about my solo (with dog) trip in my 19' Sea Ray from Port Orchard, WA, through the San Juan Islands of Washington and BC and the Gulf Islands of BC, up north to Princess Louisa, Campbell River, Desolation Sound, etc., about 1000 miles and 28 days, sort of a glorified log. Lots of fun, one of those "once in a lifetime" adventures. I really fell in love with the whole area--incredible scenery (especially Princess Louisa, which is only accessible by boat or float plane--a place not to be missed and worth a diversion). And with the exception only of the twits that run the Bathgate marina store at Egmont, BC, who were both decidedly the grumpiest imaginable, a land populated by superbly friendly and helpful people.

To keep this in the flying genre, because of having to wait for the Strait to calm down some over several days, I spent hours and hours watching the floatplanes of both Kenmore and Baxter come in and out of the Nanaimo boat basin. Of course, they come into almost every other marina, too, but they're like bees to the nest there. I'm pretty sure it was then that I said to myself, "Cary, you've got to learn to fly one of those things!"

Since most of the marinas are very sheltered, even when the more open water is ruffled up, a float plane could be safely landed at most of them. I wouldn't even think about trying it on the open water, which from my boating experiences up there is more than almost any type of seaplane could handle. My Sea Ray handled it only because I'm such a superb boatman , but it was a lot easier in the trawlers we have chartered, a 32' Nordic Tug and a 36' Grand Banks. Even when relatively calm, most of the open water has 2-3' chop.

Cary

Dangit Cary, you're going to let the special secret that is Desolation Sound out of the ol bag!

I'm one of those guys that is fortunate enough to be paid to fly beavers and turbo-otters around that area every summer, it is a truly magical place.

Princess Louisa is amazing, always glassy water, Gorge Harbor, Cortez Island, Big Bay, Dent Island Resort, Refuge Cove, Prideaux Haven, Port Hardy, Sullivan Bay, Port MacNeil, out to the west side with Bamfield and Tofino. Heck, scrub the Alaska trip, just spend your summer in BC! They got better WX and things are cheaper!