AN SMA PLT IS UPSET WITH CUSTOMS RULES.
Synopsis
AN SMA PLT IS UPSET WITH CUSTOMS RULES.
Narrative
AFTER EVACING S BAJA BECAUSE OF A HURRICANE; WE WERE FORCED TO ARRIVE AT CXL WITHOUT A FLT PLAN. I FILED WITH SAN DIEGO FSS IN THE AIR AND WAS TOLD I COULDN'T LAND AT CXL FOR 1 HR OR FACE $5000 FINE. I ELECTED TO HOLD OVER THE ARPT FOR THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE HR. CUSTOMS WOULD NOT WAIVE THE TIME EVEN THOUGH WE SAW THEM DRIVE UP 1/2 HR BEFORE. ON ARR I WAS TOLD NOT ONLY COULD I NOT LAND FOR 1 HR; I HAD TO HOLD OVER MEXICAN AIRSPACE; NOT UNITED STATES; A SILLY LAW WHICH ENDANGERS OTHERS FOR NO REASON. CUSTOMS SAYS THEY NEED THE TIME TO GET THERE. NOT TRUE. CXL IS A SMALL TOWN. IT TAKES 5 MINS AT MOST; EVEN IF AGENTS ARE ASLEEP; 30 MINS IS ENOUGH. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT RULE REMAINING OUTSIDE OF UNITED STATED AIRSPACE FOR THE 1 HR AND HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT EITHER. AFTER CHKING RULES; IT'S CLR THAT A PLT MUST REMAIN OUTSIDE FOR 1 HR PRIOR AND THEN LAND DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY AT NEAREST ARPT. WHAT RULE GIVES CUSTOMS JURISDICTION OVER ACFT AND FAR ENFORCEMENT? WHAT TRAINING DO CUSTOMS OFFICERS GET IN THE FARS; ETC? PRETTY SOON THE IRS WILL BE CLOSING FLT PLANS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.