Alaska bound

[231flyer]

I am planning a trip for our family of 4 to Alaska in April/June and looking for advise/experiences. 

Route: KGNB-KIDA-CYVR-PAJN-PANC-PAKT-CYYC-KBIL-KGNB.  

We expect to spend 10 days on the trip and also plan a helo flight to Denali from ANC. 

[pjsny78]

WOW.

this sounds great. i was thinking about doing the same. id love to hear peoples comments as well.

[231flyer]

Take a look at the following to wet your appetite:

http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/alaska

www.alaskaairmen.com

 

 

[Immelman]

I had the pleasure of flying up and back this past summer. I decided to write up my trip:

http://redfeatherpilot.blogspot.com/2011/10/alaska-epilogue.html

 

[N9453V]

Haven't flown to Alaska... yet, but have done a fair bit of flying in western Canada.

CYVR (Vancouver International) is not GA friendly, I'd recommend CZBB (Boundary Bay, BC) instead. CYVR has a minimum $34.08 landing fee (reduced to $12.42 from 0730 to 1030 Saturday and Sunday) with very expensive parking and fuel (when I last checked Landmark was charging about $8/gal and $85/night for parking).

CZBB (http://archive.copanational.org/PlacesToFly/airport_view.php?ap_id=199) is also very close to downtown Vancouver, no landing fees, customs available and much more reasonable fuel and parking fees (I think fuel is around $6/gal... $1.59 * 3.78).

CYYC (Calgary International) is actually even less GA friendly than CYVR. I'd recommend CYBW (Springbank) instead. As of February 1st, CYYC now has a minimum landing fee of $75.00! ESSO apparently no longer sells AVGAS and Landmark has a ramp fee of around $115 if you take on less than 200 liters of fuel.

CYBW (http://archive.copanational.org/PlacesToFly/airport_view.php?pr_id=2&ap_id=100) has no landing fees, customs available, more reasonable fuel and parking, rental cars and a restauruant on site.

You'll need a current CFS (Canada Flight Supplement) and VNC/VTA charts (if IFR, you also need a copy of the Canada Air Pilot for the regions you're flying in an en route charts). Transport Canada has some basic information here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/tp15048-menu-5859.htm

Hope that helps.

-Andrew

[BorealOne]

The only thing I'd add to Andrew's excellent points re ZBB and YBW is that the MEAs between PAKT and YYC are pretty steep - 15k or so - and the possibility of rugged weather is very high. I'd suggest coming back via the Alaska Highway VFR route to Watson Lake and then down the eastern slopes to Calgary (Springbank). To go back west, suggest the Rogers Pass route through Banff and then down via Kamloops to Vancouver.

[Piloto]

Having a good battery is important. Recommend a sealed Concorde or a one year or newer Gill battery. When using preheat do not start the engine until the oil drips out off the dipstick. Be prepared for surprises as cold weather tend to affect avionics in different ways. Mooneys cabin heat is not the best, don't take your parka off. Be aware that touch screens (except Aera 560) do not work with gloves on. I use a retracted ball point pen on the Aera and it works beautifully but the pen trick does not work with the G796 or the GTN750. Keep warm.

 

José

[schule]

231 Flyer,

There are several points to consider on this trip.  AOPA and the FAA have a couple of good sites with information on the international flight portions.  Also check out the Alaska State DOT site for the specific survival gear requirements.  The gear listed is minimalist and having spent a couple nights doing Arctic Survival at a balmy -25 I would recommend a little bit more cold weather gear.  My new bird is currently sitting in Protland until the weather gets better this spring.  I plan to run the inland passage around the same time in an F model.

[KSMooniac]

If you're an AOPA member (all of us should be!) there is an Alaska section on their forum:  http://forums.aopa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=15

I haven't been there yet myself via Mooney, but it is on my wish-list, especially since I have family up there.  I'd also like to ride my motorcycle up there someday as well.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Sounds like fun.  I'm itching to go up there at some point, but likely via American/Alaska Airlines.

Have some airline miles to burn and might be looking to do so in June or July with my brother...

[John Pleisse]

1) If you can navigate customs....... (not being macho here) a couple of side arms in the plane should be an integeral part of your survival-crash pack.

2) Bug spray... the mosquitos in Alaska are as big a Pterodactyls.

 

[John Pleisse]

Quote: Immelman

I had the pleasure of flying up and back this past summer. I decided to write up my trip:

http://redfeatherpilot.blogspot.com/2011/10/alaska-epilogue.html

 

[fantom]

Quote: N4352H

1) If you can navigate customs....... (not being macho here) a couple of side arms in the plane should be an integeral part of your ......

 

[Immelman]

[BorealOne]

great idea for a thread - i commute over some pretty rugged bush, and am also a volunteer CASARA search and rescue pilot and former paramedic. I've got a few ideas myself on survival kit.

 

[BorealOne]

Quote: fantom

just don't land in Canada since they will lock you up and throw away the key.

[Parker_Woodruff]

'cause we all know if you bring a handgun instead of a long gun to Canada you're just gonna lose all your judgement and start sprayin bullets everywhere!

...frustrating, especially when it is often easier to carry a handgun.

[231flyer]

Thanks for all the great info. so far. I plan to carry a jr shotgun (with all the appropriate paperwork etc) inbound and buy/rent a handgun once I get to Ketchican.  Although I don't plan on camping much, I do expect lots of long hikes and prefer something more substantial than bear pepper spray. I was also contemplating renting a rescue digny (with a weather-proof tent top) as part of my emergency kit.

[Dale]

Wow!  An Alaska trip in my Mooney is definitely on my list.  I am hoping to be able to do it in the next year or two.  I really envy those of you who have already made the trip in your Mooney.  A few years ago I was sharing some emails with a young doctor named Shaun Lunt, who spent his summers flying his Piper SuperCub throughout Alaska.  He was an excellent photographer and he posted hundreds and hundreds of photos from the Alaska backcountry which are truly spectacular.  If anyone wants to get excited about flying in beautiful Alaska, please take a moment to view these photos, they are really something. 

The site is:  http://shaunlunt.typepad.com/

Unfortunately, Shaun was killed in 2008 when he stalled his Super Cub over a deserted beach in Alaska.  Shaun's parents kept his website alive for people to see and experience some of Shaun's life in Alaska.  He was a pretty extraordinary guy.  On his website he wrote about his summers flying in Alaska with all the beautiful pictures.  Once you see the pictures and read about Shaun, I think you will come away with a little different perspective.  Alaska, definitely on top of my list of things I have to do.  I hope everyone enjoys the pictures.

[jbs007]

If possible, I would recommend travelling by RV through Alaska.  I say that because I have done it.  Don't get me wrong; being a bush pilot up there would be the ultimate, but if youre there to visit and have have a month or so... rvalaskatours.com.  My uncle runs it and I worked for him for a summer when I was in college.  Started in Northern BC, through Yukon territory and all over AK.  We saw people from cruise ships and other touring means through the trip and it was obvious they didnt see half the wilderness, culture, or experience we got.  They are very flexible and there is no harm contacting them to see if you could fly up there, rent an RV somewhere and participate in as little or as much of there month long tours as you want.  Alaska is awesome!

[rainman]

Immelman, I couldn't stop reading your blog about the trip to Alaska and the great photos.  Thanks,

[flhelo]

Great Blog!! Read it all while at work and not flying(It's IFR, VFR program). Sounds really awesome. Hope to be able to do that one day.  Many thanks for the story!!!

[schule]

Immelman,

Great write up!  It is fun to see what outsiders think about the Great Land, and quite a refreshing look a why those who are here stay after what has been a verrrry long winter.  Thanks for the reminder of the reason we put up with winter to make it to summer.

Hope to see some other Mooneys up here this summer.  Legend holds that a bad winter typically greets a great summer.   I hope it holds true in 2012.

-Mark

[Immelman]

Thanks for the kind words you guys. Really I only got a taste. I am already thinking about the return trip. Would love to come up the coast to make a return visit!

Mark - I have to admire you guys who tough it out through the winter up there. I got a taste of cold in my youth (a winter in eastern Idaho), but even there you still have enough daylight to have some fun. My friend in Haines busted out for the winter and last I heard spent it in Santa Barbara, ha! On the other extreme I have a friend from college who took a 1-year job at the south pole.. sunset is coming for him, with 6 months of dark. Yikes, too much for me!

[fantom]

On my bucket list as well.

I've flown to Alaska while in the Air Force and been there as a tourist. Flying there in my Mooney would be a dream....in the summer of course. I'd even remorse my inner gear doors anticipating some unpaved or partially paved fields!