Comment Submitted by W.F. Collins

In reference to the proposed rule to require private aircraft to provide aircraft/pilot/passenger data via Internet to CBP officials 60 minutes prior to departure for flight of entry into the USA (docket USCBP 2007-0064): I enjoy flying with my wife and another couple in our co-owned Piper Cherokee to Baja Mexico. We have done this several times and have had no problems with the fine people at Customs at the Calexico Airport. However, this new rule requiring Internet access in Baja Mexico for interactive data transmission of information to enable "clearance" into the US is not practical. This is because of poor data transmission facilities in most of Baja California. I propose to require the exception for the case that the subject aircraft fulfills the requirements of this new proposed rule (USCBP 2007-0064) before departing the USA on the outbound portion of the trip, but follows the old rules for returning to the USA, as long as no change to the information has occurred. This would enable aircraft visiting Baja for pleasure to establish the radio link with the Customs authority 60 minutes prior to border crossing (as is the case today with the existing rule) and affirm that no change in "already on file information" has occurred. We already file a flight plan before leaving the USA to let it be known where and when we will return, and then confirm by radio for the actual return flight. Radio is the only reliable means to let CBP know we are inbound. Additionally, we must land at the first international aitport of opportunity anyway, and the veracity of our affirmation statement of data being unchanged can be checked at this point. Certainly for piston aircraft of less than 3500 pounds, this presents little risk to anyone! Sometimes we cannot even get enough fuel in Mexico to travel much farther than Calexico.