Piney-Pinecreek is one of those tiny prairie towns that is so small both city limits signs could go up on the same post. However, size is not always relevant and in this case Pinecreek and its Canadian neighbour, Piney, jointly share an unique piece of aviation realestate.
Moving north or south across the boarder separating Canada and the USA in a light aircraft involves mandatory bureaucratic processes for which no deviation must be contemplated. And so it was after an enjoyable couple of nights in Brandon, on the Canadian side of the boarder, it was time for the Bazflyers to head south and once again enter the US. The quandary was however, where to land for boarder processing. Several options declaring themselves as “International Airports” were cased and discarded. Hands-down the winner was...Piney-Pinecreek.
Besides its unusual location with a runway in the middle of nowhere that literally straddles the boarder, it also possesses a little‐known aviation convenience as a customs clearing point for private planes. Depending on which country you are entering, after landing one simply taxis and parks the aircraft on the required side of the boarder while observing the mandatory processes. For example when entering the US one must remain in the aircraft with doors closed until it has been bomb-scanned and you’re cleared by the armed boarder officer to get out.
Apparently the Bazflyers must have ticked all the correct boxes because in the friendliest fashion they were processed and in no time at all released to continue their round the world journey, this time in mainland USA...but not before learning a little of the history of this unique place from the boarder officer a self confessed aviation enthusiast who had lived and worked at the outpost for sixteen years.
The airport’s history goes back to 1953 but it wasn’t until 1972, after bilateral agreements sponsored by an aviation enthusiast politician on each side of the boarder, that the airport was lengthened to include both countries. Today, Piney-Pinecreek (48Y) might not have a cafe or even a vending machine for passing pilots, but it does offer a couple of tempting incentives. It has the cheapest Avgas anywhere and no landing fees. According to the boarder officer, the self service Avgas tank is stocked on a US Government account for which Federal Regulations prohibit any profit margin. Such incentives attract a swarm of small aircraft over the course of one particular week every year in July when Canadians make the annual migration to and from EAA Oshkosh (KOSH), for the biggest gathering of aircraft on the planet.
In a little more than a month’s time the Bazflyers will also be flying into EAA Oshkosh but will not need to transit through Piney-Pinecreek....they did that today.
The sign says it all
ZK-BAZ parked on the US side of the boarder
Looking across to the Canadian side
Pilots in every country need reminding
Leaving Piney-Pinecreek (in the near distance) and heading south towards the destination of Park Rapids.
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