eAPIS Tutorial
January 15th, 2010 | 
Author: If you follow my tweets very much, you might know by now how I am a huge fan of Fltplan.com. I think they easily have the best and slickest flight planning services available on the web. From aviation weather to NOTAMS to approach charts, this is really a one-stop shop for planning and filing flight plans. You can tell that the owners of the site really have a deep understanding of what pilot’s need when it comes to an online flight planning tool.
One of the features of Fltplan.com that not many people are familiar with is the ability to file and submit your eAPIS notifications. APIS is the Advanced Passenger Information System used by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is the system that collects and stores international traveler information for use both going in and out of the United States. eAPIS is the system that collect and passes the passenger and crew manifest information to the APIS system electronically. In May of 2009, the US government required all general aviation pilots to provide aircraft, pilot and passenger information at least 60 minutes prior to departure.
Fltplan.com was the first company to be approved and certified by the Customs Border Protection for general aviation eAPIS notifications. Here are some of the features:
- Easy to use interface allows you to create an APIS Manifest in less than one minute (using stored aircraft, crew and passenger data).
- Easily print general Declaration forms and Customs Form 178 with your information already pre-filled.
- Accessible from any internet connected computer
- Uses https:// SSL secure technology encryption to protect your data and ensure privacy.
- For use with both IFR and VFR flights.
- You can use FltPlan.com’s eAPIS system for flights to and from Europe. (works outside the flight filing coverage area)
- Designed to be used by all pilots from single-engine piston owners up to multiple jet aircraft flight departments.
- Calculates Border crossing locations and time very accurately using your flight plan data.
- 1 annual fee for unlimited eAPIS manifests and support (most companies charge per notification)
In order to show you just how quick and easy it is to create the eAPIS manifest using fltplan.com I put together a short eAPIS tutorial. Here are the steps covered in the tutorial:
1) Create a international flight plan
2) Create the eAPIS manifest
3) Click Submit
It really is that easy. Just watch this short video below to see a demonstration. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or contact fltplan.com for more information:
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Thank you for producing the tutorial. Very useful, and I’ll share it with my students.
Hi Dan,
Glad you enjoyed it. It’s easy to review something when this feature has saved me so much time over the past year. I hear pilots complain about how difficult filing and complying with eAPIS is and I just shake my head and tell them about flptlan.com. I didn’t exaggerate or simplify anything in the video, it really is that easy.
Paul.
Hello Paul,
Thanks for the tutorial. Don’t we still have to make the phone call to customs on both the out bound and inbound flights and advise them of our pending arrival and time?
Thanks,
Hugh
Hi Hugh,
Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, you still have to arrange clearing customs with the CBP officers at the airport of intended landing. eAPIS does not replace this requirement. When you call them, the CBP officers will likely ask if you have filed submitted your eAPIS manifests so they can look up your passenger and crew information.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Paul
Paul
Nice tutorial. The only thing missing from the FltPlan, eAPIS is the phone number for the CBP, since we still have to contact them. Let us know if that is something that comes from a pull down menu or where to find this info.
Amos
Hi Amos,
The best way that I have found get the local CBP (customs) number is to call the FBO at the airport you plan on using. There is no way at fltplan.com, that I know of, to get that information.
Let me know if I can help with anything else.
Paul.
Paul, could you tell me if we have to file eAPIS if we are flying from mainland USA(miami) to St tomas US virgin Islands? Do we have to notify customs? Thankyou
Hi Ron,
According to the official CBP Private Air APIS Guide (available here), eAPIS requirements are not required from the U.S. Virgin Islands:
However, there are some interesting requirements regarding customs inspection when arriving from the U.S. Virgin Islands. (see Title 19 Subpart N ) What I would is call a Customs office in South Florida (TMB, FLL, PBI, EYE) and talk to an CBP officer to make sure you understand the entry requirements completely. You’ll find that most officers are very helpful and will be more than happy to answer any question that you have. You can also call Miami FSS station, to make sure you understand the latest FAA requirements.
Have fun.
Paul.