Pilot Proficiency

Gear Up: Flying Into Canada in the Age of COVID-19

Dick Karl had to go to Hamilton, Ontario, for a meeting recently. Turns out, he had no idea what he was signing up for.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 08:16 PM ET

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Dick Karl had quite a journey for a two-hour meeting in Hamilton, Ontario. Contributed photo

Key Takeaways:

International General Aviation (GA) flights necessitate extensive and often confusing pre-flight administrative tasks, including navigating complex digital systems like the U.S. eAPIS and Canada's ArriveCAN.
The author faced specific challenges such as password resets, unintuitive interfaces, misinterpretations of time zones for eAPIS, and adapting the commercial-focused ArriveCAN system for private aircraft.
Despite the significant bureaucratic hurdles, flying a GA aircraft allowed for a highly efficient, same-day international business trip, proving its value over much longer commercial travel alternatives.

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It was to be a two-hour meeting in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in early October.

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.