Flying In the northwestern US with Australian PPL

[RyanLee024]

Hi,

I'm Ryan and I'm a brand-spankin' new member of this forum. I got my PPL(A) License from CASA way back in May this year and am working on my license conversion right now.

I'm curious if there's any good locations/spots/attractions to fly to around the Buffalo area? I'm currently in the western New York area flying out of Dunkirk Airport.

Thanks!

[glendalegoon]

do you mean BUFFALO ,NEW YORK? Try Niagra falls.

do name the state you are in!

[MarkerInbound]

You could go the other way to Canton and see the Baseball Hall of Fame. Or stretch some to Dayton and visit the Air Force museum. It takes a couple days to see everything there. If you do go to Niagara, read up on the traffic pattern if you're going to overfly them. There are fixed routes, altitudes and direction of turns published.

All of this is moot because you'll spend the next 5 months shoving snow.

[RyanLee024]

Niagara Falls trip is definitely in the works right now. Am reading up the sectional charts and procedures for a Falls trip but probably won't be doing it until at least March next year thanks to the snow :P

[Gemini Twin]

That'll be the Northeast then.

[RyanLee024]

Yeah I'm sorry northwestern New York not northwestern US.

But back onto the topic, other than a Niagara Falls trip and to Canton, anywhere else?

Not sure about Canada since I've heard crossing over borders are a bit tricky.

[glendalegoon]

ok, now that we know where you are...there are many great places to go...aviation, Dayton Air Force Museum is fantastic. You can also stop by the WRight Brothers shop and appreciate that they invented the airplane.

Pittsburgh , PA is actually a very lovely place, the confluence of rivers there and the hills and bridges is very nice.

You could hop to many fine old towns like Rochester, or Syracuse. Flying over the finger lakes is very nice.

You could visit Elmira/Horseheads where Mark Twain lived. IF you like auto racing there is a place called, watkins glen which is pretty famous. You are close enough to go to albany and then follow the hudson to NEW YORK CITY (be careful of airspace).

You could even get to Boston.

There are great aviation museums near Washington, DC, but again, watch the airspace so we don't shoot you down!

So many places. Don't know how much money you have to spend, but they are all very nice places to fly...CAUTION, the wx will start turning to WINTER sooner than you think. SOME of these airports are unique and very challenging. binghampton ny, and others are on plateaus with demanding down/upslopes.

I have flown to all of them, in an airliner, and if you know the book, "FATE IS THE HUNTER" it is part of AM 21.

[Amadis of Gaul]

First time I've ever seen PIT being referred to as a "lovely place". Not that there is anything wrong with it, but "lovely"?

[glendalegoon]

I suppose you have to enjoy seeing bridges over rivers, hills with trees, and glass buildings.

Yes, I think Pittsburgh is wonderful. Its reputation as a steel town and full of smoke is gone.

The people are decent and hard working. The airport was actually a great one when it was a hub. there are drug companies and university.

PIT was the home of the first licensed radio station.





I can think of many metro areas that aren't so lovely.

Give me a choice of newark or pit...I'll take PIT. Miami or Pit, I'll take Pit.

[RyanLee024]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!

Seems like lots of planning to do! Maybe I can even plan a flight trip with a friend or two some time in the future.

I used to train for PPL back in Redcliffe, near Brisbane Australia, so I'm very used to flying around the coastline and enjoying the coastal views. Up here in Buffalo NY it's quite a change of scenery but I've already done a local flight (with an instructor since I still haven't got word to see the FSDO yet).

Looking forward to doing some flight trips here in the near future!

[Amadis of Gaul]

PIT over EWR, no question, but PIT over MIA, especially, say, in the middle of February, I'm not so sure.

[evansb]

Trans-border flight plan is straight forward. File a flight plan through a U.S. Flight Service Station: 1-800-WXBRIEF (1-800-992-7433) GET NOTAM. Tell the Specialist you are flying to Canada (It should be a designated Canadian Airport of Entry).

Phone Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at least 2 hours before, but not more than 48 hours before your departure: 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277).
Provide the agent with all required information, including your ETA. You must make good on your ETA within 30 minutes, otherwise you must call CBSA and update them.

Upon departure, OPEN YOUR FLIGHT PLAN THROUGH FSS, NOT A CONTROL TOWER. TOWER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR FLIGHT PLAN. FSS DOES. FAILURE TO OPEN YOUR TRANS-BORDER FLIGHT PLAN THROUGH FSS MAY RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF CANADIAN AIR REGULATIONS IF YOU ARRIVE WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.

Upon arrival at the Canadian Airport of Entry, close your flight plan through a Canadian FSS by radio, or phone NAV CANADA: 1-866-WXBRIEF. Use this phone number to file your return flight plan to the U.S.A. YOU MAY NEED A SQUAWK CODE. Don't forget to OPEN YOUR FLIGHT PLAN ON DEPARTURE through a Canadian FSS.

FYI: U.S. Customs at Buffalo: 1-716-626-0400

[Tinstaafl]

You forgot about the eAPIS bull**** that's required for international flights.