Owning an airplane brings its own set of remarkable advantages. What once required entire days of driving now becomes a journey of mere hours. Recently, Shawn and I embarked on a trip to Champlain, NY, for our Nexus interviews—a trusted traveler program jointly overseen by the American and Canadian governments. These interviews entailed meeting with representatives from both nations to answer a series of standard questions.

The closest airport to Champlain, without crossing into Canadian airspace, was Plattsburgh International (KPBG) in Plattsburgh, NY. Upon completing our interviews, we planned to continue on to Montreal via rental car to visit Shawn’s parents.

Though I have an in-panel GPS in Big Boy, I still prefer using VOR navigation aids. Our route from Wings Field (KLOM) took us via Solberg (SBJ 112.9), Huguenot (HUO 116.1), and Fulton County Airport, leading us to KPBG. This path generally offered breathtaking views while avoiding congested airspace. Regrettably, haze dimmed the scenic splendor of our flight.

At an altitude of 5500 feet, we observed scattered clouds held by the Adirondack Mountains. To prevent potential entrapment, I climbed to 9500 feet, finding clear gaps in the cloud bank and confirming an unobstructed route ahead.

However, I had miscalculated our descent profile—intending for 7500 feet instead of the 9500 feet we had ascended. As a result, we needed to descend an additional 2000 feet upon reaching Plattsburgh. Circling west of the airport gave us extra time, which serendipitously aligned with maintenance work near the runway. Our radio communication with the airport indicated the need for runway clearance, providing us with a few minutes to complete our descending circles.

Plattsburgh Airport features an expansive runway. After landing and navigating the lengthy tarmac, Eagle Aviation marshaled us into a parking spot in an otherwise sparse area. The staff kindly transported us to the main terminal where we arranged for our rental car. We then proceeded to our Nexus interviews before heading to Montreal for a few days with Shawn's parents.

In summary, it was a successful and gratifying flight mission.