Bizav To See More Customs Flexibility at Vancouver

Business and general aviation customs clearances at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR) in British Columbia, Canada, are now available from any of the airport’s three FBOs: Signature Flight Support, Million Air, and Skyservice. The formal general aviation customs facility, operated by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), has not been readily available since maintenance and upgrades have been underway at the airport.

“This summer, in collaboration with CBSA, the airport adjusted the customs clearance process for international passenger arrivals at Airport South to enable a streamlined customs process for general aviation and business aviation, as well as charter operations,” an airport spokesperson told AIN. “Obtaining clearances at the CBSA facility was more rigid, time-consuming, and lacked the amenities and privacy of FBOs.”

The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) reported that this change is “permanent,” and the airport spokesperson confirmed that the procedures are in place “indefinitely.” She said the new process is “flexible, allowing us to accommodate maintenance projects, but is also in line with Canadian industry standards, and will save operators time, decrease traffic, and reduce pilot confusion.”

Clearance procedure remains the same, said CBAA, “where FBO personnel are not allowed to come into contact with the aircraft until it is cleared.” Additionally, “crews need to have their clearance numbers before off-boarding passengers. The CBSA phone number at CYVR is (888) 226-7277.”

Previously, private aircraft arriving from international destinations had to taxi to the designated customs clearance area where CBSA officers would meet incoming aircraft, and crew and passengers would need to stay on the aircraft until customs officers arrived.