CAN/USA: Summary

Flying
Ottawa Checkride: 0.5 Hrs logged 20l fuel
Ottawa to Massena: 0.8 Hrs logged 33l fuel
Massena to Westchester: 2.7 Hrs logged 94l fuel
New York low level route: 1.1 Hrs logged 41l fuel
Westchester to Niagara: 2.8 Hrs logged 91l fuel
Niagara to Toronto City: 1.2 Hrs logged 41l fuel
Toronto City to Ottawa: 2.4 Hrs logged 82l fuel

Total: 11.5 Hrs logged 402l fuel

Costs
Total cost from Ottawa Flying Club (wet rate): $CAN1770.00
Extra fuel costs (over and above OFC): $CAN 120.00
Handling charges: $CAN 60.00

Total cost of flying: $CAN1950.00


Highlights
Minor scud running the last 30 miles into Westchester for New York
New York low level flight around Manhattan etc.
Niagara Falls
Coming into and flying out of Toronto City airport – very scenic
Flight over Kingston on a glorious day
Serious sideslipping into Ottawa having been left very high and short by traffic and ATC
Getting US ATC units to understand my callsign (they are used to the American format of numbers and letters), the Canadian ‘UK style all-letter’ format seemed to defeat many of them!
1-800-WX BRIEF – flight planning made a pleasure US style
Having a serious discussion with Canadian customs about forgetting to declare the purchase of three New York branded baseball hats for a total of $US12.00

Mistakes and irritations
US Homeland Security – the all important ‘appearance of doing something’
Not adjusting the radio / intercom leaving the radio too loud and the intercom too quiet.
Lining up on the wrong runway to land at Westchester, spotted it myself in enough time though
Accidentally knocking off the intercom and thinking it was my headset leading to one hour of silence and miming
Forgetting to close my flight plans – twice!
Taxiing past the hold at Westchester without clearance

Personal Firsts
Flying P1 in Canada
Flying P1 in the USA
Crossing the Canada / US border
Using the US flight following
Touring in a Cessna 172

Summary
All in all a great trip and one where all the prior planning and preparation paid off and made it so much easier and less stressful than it could have been. I was delighted with the relative freedom and relaxed attitude to flying that exists in Canada and the US. Great countries to tour with huge airports and modest if any landing fees. The highlights had to be the New York low level route and coming in to Toronto City – both highly recommended.

Next Year
I hope to visit a relation in Texas, join up with my buddy who will travel down and do a few days flying touring around Texas, New Mexico and Utah – yeehaa!