2025-05-01 COPA Flight 70 Meeting
Thursday May 1st 19:15
Fly Out Trip To Buffalo Planning
Learn eAPIS, border crossing procedures and landing on a huge runway.
COPA Flight 70 is planning a Fly Out to Buffalo as a way of practising border crossing procedures and paperwork and gaining experience with radio communication and procedures at larger airports. We will fly from Oshawa and around the lake to Buffalo, which is about 45 minutes flying time. We will talk with Class C controllers at City Centre and Buffalo, as well as Toronto Terminal and Buffalo Approach, before landing on a 9000 foot runway. On departure from Buffalo, we will also talk with Clearance Delivery. Great practise! Everyone is welcome.
If you would like to participate, please email BlueSky@copa70.com with your name and cell number, so you will receive information as we try to schedule the trip to work with the weather.
Politics
Given the current political climate, we currently plan to give the presentation and participants can choose to fly or stay in Canada. Those that fly can take a courtesy car to lunch, or just pack a lunch (choose carefully, as there are many foods you cannot bring) and eat it at the FBO.
Presentation
Jeff Page will do a presentation on cross border procedures, filling out the eAPIS and flying at large airports. The plan will be to make our flight on Saturday May 3rd, or Sunday May 4th, if the weather permits.
Those pilots planning to fly should bring their laptops to the meeting and we can do the eAPIS together after the meeting.
Those without aircraft can likely participate as a passenger in another aircraft.
User Fee Decals
Aircraft owners need to purchase a customs clearance decal in advance, from the DTOPS website.
You will need your decal number to finish your eAPIS submission. This will be included on the email receipt you will receive a couple of business days after ordering.
They have changed their system, so previous users need to create a new login.
Passports
All pilots and passengers require valid documentation to clear customs into the USA. Generally this means a valid Canadian or US passport and no criminal record. The Whitby passport office is currently processing passports within a couple of weeks.
Equipment
Buffalo is Class C ADSB-Out required airspace. However, there is a method whereby you may ask for an exemption. Since the controllers cannot tell if you are transmitting ADSB, it seems reasonable that exemptions might be granted. Click here to read about the ADS-B Deviation Authorization.
Bring To The Meeting
Participants should bring the following information to the meeting in order to fill out the eAPIS manifests:
- Laptop
- Tail number and decal number of aircraft
- For everyone: date of birth, address, cell phone, email, passport number, passport expiry date
- For pilots: pilot licence number and expiry date of aviation document
- Name, cell phone, email of emergency contact
Agenda
19:15 Copa Flight 70 Announcements
19:20 Stephen Wilcox will discuss upcoming airport improvements
19:30 Feature Presentation
21:00 Workship to submit eAPIS manifests
Pre-Meeting Social FREE PIZZA
Free Pizza tickets! Pizza will be provided without charge to all members, visitors and guests by COPA Flight 70. Please arrive by 18:15 to ensure you are included in the pizza order. Some pizza tickets may be available on a first come, first served basis for those arriving after 18:15. Pizza served at approximately 18:45. The 420 RCAFA Wing and bar open at 17:30.
Food Bank Donations
COPA Flight 70 is now collecting food donations to benefit Feed The Need In Durham
Donations of non-perishable food will be appreciated. Items most needed are canned goods (fish, meat, beans, veggies, fruit, pasta sauce), breakfast and healthy snacks. A jar is available if you wish to make a cash donation.
Everyone is Welcome
Visitors and guests are welcome, with a $5 admission fee to help cover the cost of the Wing rental.
Membership Dues
New memberships are welcome. Annual COPA 70 membership dues are $35. Student pilots, 1st year free.
If you wish to join or renew, please see Wayne at the meeting, or email him at wellis122@aol.com
General Information
COPA 70 generally meets on the first Thursday of each month (except July, August, December).
Location: RCAFA 420 Wing
Fly-ins welcome. Call the Wing at 905-723-2845 to be shuttled from the airport terminal to the Wing.
Contact Us
If you have an enquiry, please contact Captain@Copa70.com or BlueSky@copa70.com