Hi Guys,

I am a private pilot and aircraft owner (Citabria 7ECA), currently planning to take my written tests for an A&P license.  The Oakland FSDO signed me off to take the tests.

I read about this website in Flying magazine and look forward to corresponding with other mechanics, experienced and in training.

Harry

..............Looks like a promising site. I am both an FAA A&P and Transport Canada AME M2. I work for Cascade Aerospace, Inc, in Abbotsford, B.C. Canada. My only hobby is recreational flying. I also have both the FAA and Transport Canada Private Pilot's licenses, and also own my 1975 Cessna 150M, and enjoy flying it all over this beautiful province. I am looking forward to making many pilot and mechanic friends through these forums.

 BA.

Hi BA,

 You live and work in a very nice place!  I flew up to the Arlington EAA fly-in several years ago and thought it would be fun to fly up to Canada so I could be an "international pilot"  While talking to some others at the fly-in, several told me to fly up to Chilliwack (sp?) to have lunch and some pie for dessert.  So, I filed a flight plan, and landed at Abbotsford to clear Canadian Customs.  No problems at all, and I received my clearance over the phone.

Lunch at Chilliwack was very good and they must have had 20 different selections for pie!  I told the waitress I had flown 800 miles for their pie; she looked at me like I was a little crazy...

After finishing lunch, I flew back to Bellingham, WA.  Not knowing the protocol, I arrived about 30 minutes early, and was told by a very tall female US Customs agent that I could have been fined $5,000 for my early arrival!  She let me off with a warning, then asked to see my US Customs sticker.  ?!?  "What's that?", I asked...  She rolled her eyes, sighed, and told me to pay $25 for an entry sticker.  This was a confirmation that I was indeed "back in the USA"; what better way to greet a citizen than to tax them?

Since I was in the area, I then flew to Friday Harbor for a look around before returning to Arlington that evening.

Harry 

 Hi Harry,

 Sounds like you had a great time on your flight to BC. Yes Chilliwack is a favourite airport of mine to go to for a bit of coffee and pie. Yeah the American side can be very difficult when it comes to customs and so on. Flying is a fun experience. I don't want to ruin it by flying in to any US airports. So I stay away from there. Here is a video of a flight I took in my airplane in to Chilliwack. Click on the link below.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=711779107688695362

 BA.

You're right Harry. that part of the world is gorgeous as long as it's NOT SNOWING!

In your post you said "...confirmation that I was indeed "back in the USA". What better way to greet a citizen than to tax them?"

My wife and I went to Australia and New Zealand this past summer and we were charged  this "tax" too.  The really sad part of this "tax" is that regardless of how much they get, most, if not all, governments don't have the brains or the faintest clue about how to spend it wisely.

Giving money to politicians is like giving loaded shotguns to a room full of chimpanzees.

Bill