Leaving the Country? Check New Rules on Re-Entry

With the potential for a $5,000 fine-or worse-pilots and aircraft operators who leave the United States need to be aware of new customs rules on border crossing. The new rules went into effect last week and require a passenger manifest to be filed online through U.S. Customs’ electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS). For help in understanding the new rules, pilots can go directly to the eAPIS website (eapis.cbp.dhs.gov), or the AOPA website (aopa.org) to take a short interactive course. Also, the EAA has posted a downloadable one-page PDF fact sheet on its website (eaa.org) to help facilitate flight planning for cross-border flights.