US AND CANADIAN general-aviation pilots flying into the USA from Canada, will be able to circumvent US Customs procedures, by making telephone reports of their entries under a new scheme, unveiled at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The General Aviation Telephonic Entry (GATE) programme is the result of a February 1995 accord between the USA and Canada, intended to increase trade and tourism by reducing barriers. "Historically, pilots of general-aviation aircraft who report their arrival to US Customs have a high degree of compliance with Customs and other agency laws. GATE rewards this," says US Customs.
US- and Canadian-registered GA aircraft - defined as private and corporate aircraft and air ambulances with 15 or fewer passengers - arriving directly from Canada will be eligible to use the GATE. European aircraft making a fuel stop in Canada before entering the USA will not be eligible. Most municipally owned and some privately owned airports will qualify for the programme.
Applicants will be screened before being approved to use the GATE, due to be available from 4 November. US Customs says that it retains the option to inspect any aircraft using the GATE.
Source: Flight International
