Thank you. Of the many theories I 've had (some combined with some of the others out there), you just put into words some of the thoughts and ideas I couldnt put to rest. You filled a lot of holes in my main theory. Mainly, I thought the value to OC of DM and the hangar had more to do with his ability to fly (smuggle) and store. I didnt consider the value of having a business which would allow for planes to not go through usual Customs checks. Brilliant. Now I look forward to the advice of some members here who would know more about planes and airports....
I know there's a lot of speculation about DM and his access to planes and an assumption that he had the ability to fly them.
All Aircraft must file a flight plan with NavCanada when they are flying more than 25 nautical miles away from their departure airport. Flight plans of Private and Commercial aircraft can be tracked at
http://flightaware.com/ Since 9/11, crossing the Canada/US border via small plane is much more difficult than it sounds. All planes would have to go thru "normal" customs checks. Customs are not related to Transport Canada or Nav Canada and all planes must give advanced notice to Customs. CanPass is is the easiest route. Regardless, 2 hours notice has to be given, and failure to do this can result in Customs confiscating the Aircraft and fining the pilot/owner.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/privateair-eng.html#s2x1
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/tp15048-menu-5859.htm
It's kind of a romantic idea thinking that planes could be flying in and out of an international airport, smuggling all sorts of things- but I have to say it's extremely far fetched. Between Transport Canada requirements for flight plans, transponders, squawk codes, Nav Canada towers...and Customs plus Homeland Security in the States...nahhhh...much easier to take a car across the border!
The historical data for all three aircraft can be found on the Transport Canada site:
http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp
The Bell Helicopter C-FKLK is the only thing that there is really proof of DM flying.
C-GAFF- Piper Navajo-Imported in 2004 by Millardair : latest Certificate of Registration issued November 13, 2012 (this is strange because the previous C of R was issued in Jan 2008, when Millardair went from being Millardair Limited to Millardair Inc. There are no changes on the C of R...so why it was reissued on November 13/12 doesn't really make sense)
C-GMLJ - Piper Navajo with longest history at Millardair-joining fleet in December,1986.
Most pilots who fly the Navajo's hold a Commercial Pilots License or an ATPL and it is approved for single pilot IFR flight if certain weather minimums are met and the auto-pilot is working. Because they were registered as "private" also means that they could not be used for anything commercial or revenue generating. These are complex twin engine aircraft that require a great amount of skill and experience to fly.
A brief history of the old Millardair DC Fleet that they were really known for:
MILLARDAIR Douglas C54E/DC-4 Skymaster--C-GFMQ | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
There is absolutely no evidence anywhere indicating that DM held his multi-engine license(required for the other two registered aircraft)or an Instrument rating, which would be needed to fly either of the other two planes in anything but clear skies and if flying above 12,500' a controlled Visual Flight Rules(VFR) clearance or an Instrument Flight rating. Helicopter licenses are different than fixed wing licenses and they are not interchangeable.