Flights between Mexico or Canada and the United States

This regulation requires you to file a flight plan—either IFR or VFR—whenever you fly between the United States and Mexico or Canada, unless ATC specifically authorizes otherwise. This applies to all civil aircraft operations crossing these international borders.

In practice, this means you cannot simply depart from a U.S. airport and fly into Mexican or Canadian airspace, or vice versa, without an active flight plan on file. The requirement exists to ensure border security and enable search and rescue operations if needed. Even if you're flying VFR in good weather, you must file a VFR flight plan for these cross-border flights.

The "unless otherwise authorized by ATC" provision is rarely invoked but allows flexibility for special circumstances. For routine cross-border operations, always plan to file the appropriate flight plan before departure.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*