COPA member
Bram Tilroe recently sent us an article showcasing the border airstrip at Del
Bonita, Alberta.
COPA member
Bram Tilroe recently sent us an article showcasing the border airstrip at Del
Bonita, Alberta.
Del Bonita is one of a unique family of prairie airports which sit on the Canada/U.S. border at existing road crossings and can be used by pilots to clear customs in both directions.
Besides Del Bonita these airports include Coutts/Ross International, Alberta; West Poplar, Saskatchewan; Coronach/Scoby Border Station, Saskatchewan; Dunsieth/International Peace Gardens, Manitoba; Piney/Pine Creek Border Station, Manitoba.
All are listed in the Canada Flight Supplement.
For more information on flying to the USA safely this summer, have a look at The AOPA/COPA Guide to Cross Border Operations available for free to COPA members in three electronic formats – HTML, PDF and MS Word on the COPA website, Members only section.
A complete list of Canadian airports of entry and CANPASS airports can be found on the Canadian Border Services Agency website www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca .
A complete list of U.S. Customs airports can be found on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website at www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/.
Another useful resource is the COPA list of “Places to Fly” which can be found in the members’ only section of the COPA website.
UPDATE ON THE DEL BONITA AIRSTRIP
By Bram Tilroe
At the Montana Aviation Conference held March 3-6, 2005, it was announced, the Del Bonita airstrip has been re-opened south bound to clear U.S. Customs.
This has been a long battle between pilots in Alberta and Montana since it was closed for U.S. customs clearance after 9/11. The Montana state Aeronautics division has re-installed a new used Unicom to replace the old tube type radio from the 1960s and it is located in the main office at the U.S. CPB (Customs & Border Protection) building.
The diagram in the Montana Aeronautics Airport Directory clearly shows the location of the customs ports and lists the phone numbers for both. In addition, Fax: U.S. CPB 406- 336-2135 and Canada Customs Fax: 403-758-6225.
For North bound clearance you can call them directly or through CANPASS. It also minimizes advance notice requirements; however call either Customs directly before landing.
Keith Lodermeier one of the Canada Customs officers lives right there and he enjoys getting to clear aircraft which he has done for us many times in the last 15 years. Last year we cleared the Montana Antique Air tour going to Alberta, all 23 aircraft.
Del Bonita (CEQ4) can also be found in the Canada Flight Supplement.
The handy thing is that you land, park your aircraft, and walk up to either Customs house to clear. Since you have not crossed the boundary the requirement for a FAA transponder code is irrelevant also, the trans border flight plan requirements do not apply and you could operate under a flight itinerary.
I have discussed this with Transport Canada and they concur. Once you have been cleared by either Customs you can legally proceed north or south.
The only caution is that the grass on the strip gets somewhat tufted and the sand blows out, also the gophers and a few badgers can be quite active. Montana Aeronautics regularly checks out the strip and maintains and mows it.
Also Don Althen from the Alberta Flying Farmers lives nearby and also helps in filling in the badger holes. In the many years of crossings I have not found a problem, however, soft field techniques should be applied just in case.