By Chris Strube, EAA 738689; Lillooet, British Columbia; CYLI, Member, BCGA
Shortly after becoming a pilot in 1981, I got a lesson in diplomacy. Coutts/Ross International Airport (CEP4) was an unfenced grass and dirt strip, straddling the U.S./Canada border. A friend had bought a hotel in Coutts, Alberta. My wife and I were invited for the grand opening and decided to fly from Medicine Hat. We rented an airplane from my flight school, Bar XH Aviation.
As a new pilot, all the aviation requirements were exhaustively met, and we departed. Arriving at CEP4, I made my radio calls and flew a circuit to land Rwy 27. On short final, I barely cleared a border marker, right on the extended centre line! We landed, expecting our ride to meet us. After a few minutes, I decided to phone. In 1981, a cell phone wasn’t an option, so I headed for the nearest house to ask for help.
Here’s where the lesson was applied. After knocking, the door was opened by a very large man in uniform, with a stern look and a pistol in hand. He looked at the airplane, and said, “Sir, you are unlawfully in the United States of America. I could arrest you, but I suggest you return to your aircraft and make other arrangements.” Colour me very grateful! Back to the airplane, and five minutes later, our ride arrived.
We haven’t been back since, but the lesson remains with me. Always know where you are! At 76, I’m still flying our Mooney, and one item on the bucket list is to land at all six border airports. Coutts/Ross International, Avey Field State Airport, Whetstone International Airport, International Peace Garden Airport, Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport, and Coronach/Scobey Border Station Airport.
NOTE: Piney-Pinecreek Airport was officially closed on December 27, 2024. These border crossing airports were designed to allow shipments to cross the border early in WWII since they weren’t “technically” crossing the border into a country involved in combat itself.- Ed.
