The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) reported today that the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) recently announced that border overflight exemption applications can now be accessed on the electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) web portal. The move represents the latest effort by CBP to ease red tape in negotiating the overflight procedure.
Laura Everington, NBAA director of international operations and regulations, said, “This centralized electronic application and renewal process is the most recent step to streamlining the border overflight exemption process. Operators should begin using the border overflight exemption link on the eAPIS website with their next application or renewal. CBP anticipates processing time of 30 days or fewer after receiving the application on eAPIS.”
NBAA said that operators using third-party vendors or other international service providers for processing APIS and/or border overflight exemption applications will not need to change their procedures. The providers will use their own login credentials to process the applications and renewals on behalf of their clients.
Do airlines fluctuating across the Canada-US border have to get permission?
And military aircraft?
It’s common for optimum flight tracks in southern Canada and northern US to cross the border for optimum routing, varying with winds.
Years ago an airliner was upset by the wake vortices of a heavy 747, in BC, I forget if the 747 was military or a civilian contractor to military. (Airliner then made precautionary landing in Calgary.)
To answer your first question, no. Next the military has their own procedures when leaving or entering the country. These permits when approved allows planes and listed passengers or crew to bypass first allowable airports used to clear customs when entering the country from the south. In other words coming from the south if you have an approved permit you could bypass Florida airports normally used to clear customs and land at an airport further north and clear customs there. It is common to enter Canadian airspace when flying in the Detroit area or other areas along the northern border. When departing a US airport, as long as you don’t land at a Canadian airport there are no customs requirements to follow.
Another example is when flying from MSP to Anchorage AK, we definitely overflew Canada getting there, but since we did not land in Canada, there were no customs regulations to comply with.
Matt W:
Good example.
As would be John Deakin’s record-breaking 747 classic flight NY-Japan.
Clarifying: My point was permission to overfly, but actually it is obvious: ATC must give you clearance.
Matt W:
Clarifying: My point was permission to overfly, but actually it is obvious: ATC must give you clearance.