Speaking of charter outfits. A co-worker is planning a river rafting trip in late July/early August on the Sheenjek river. He is a former white water guide on the snake and colorado. He would like to put in at Double Mountain. He has looked at several companies to fly him in. Those of you who are familiar with that country have any suggestions on who would be the best in that area? He's been quoted a wide range of prices.
Thanks.
Mark

Tell him to catch a Wright Air schedule out of Fairbanks to Fort Yukon, then charter with Yukon Air Service: http://www.yukonair.com/

He won't find more professional aviators than either of these outfits. Price is SOMEwhat irrelevant when you're trusting your life to someone. Kirk Sweetsir is probably the most knowledgeable pilot there is in the eastern Brooks Range.

MTV

Redbaron180 wrote:Skystrider, I hope your wife doesn't reed your posts.........

Good point! I guess I should explain that she really doesn't care for TV but she does like this show. As a matter of fact she asks me when it comes on. The show does take on some reasonable discussions that only someone involved in aviation would be expected to know. For example, the one segment that discussed the water in the fuel storage tanks and how they had to wait for it to separate out. My wife commented that was why I sumped fuel during pre-flight right? That told me that the show did a good enough job explaining that particular aspect that she made the connection.

For the 99.8% of the population that knows diddly about flying the show packs a lot of information. Notice those dramatic pauses before a commercial? Then when the show comes back on it repeats a portion before showing the outcome? That is a classic approach to teaching. Tell them, let them think about it, and then tell them again. They use the same pattern Sesame Street uses.

I think this show is doing a great job for the flying community and whatever drawbacks it has are minor compared to the education it is delivering. It is making flying real to a lot of people.

Then when the show comes back on it repeats a portion before showing the outcome?

First of all, I love this show.

But Rod, I see this "re-run" segment on lots of TV. I feel it is nothing but a way to help make 12 minutes of video last 30, etc.

Some shows like Fox News, shows a "pre-view" before the commercial brakes, then they start the next segment with that same pre-view, so by the time they show the real deal to you, you have seen it 3-4 times. Just one of my pet peeves of TV.

patrol guy wrote:

Then when the show comes back on it repeats a portion before showing the outcome?

First of all, I love this show.

But Rod, I see this "re-run" segment on lots of TV. I feel it is nothing but a way to help make 12 minutes of video last 30, etc.

Some shows like Fox News, shows a "pre-view" before the commercial brakes, then they start the next segment with that same pre-view, so by the time they show the real deal to you, you have seen it 3-4 times. Just one of my pet peeves of TV.

No arguement and maybe I am reading too much into what they are doing. It does appear to me though that they may be also trying to use it as a learning moment. For example, in the segment that John is flying a couple up to their remote home in his 180 and finds out on approaching the landing strip that it has a dogleg in it. Sure, they add that "dramatic" touch but they also take the time to twice explain why this is a challenge and then demonstrate how he handles it. In the news "preview" they give you no real information - just empty repetition.

Again, maybe I am looking for meaning where there is none, but it does appear they often offer information vs many other programs where they offer nothing. Of course I have been called, what's that word, an "optimist".

I think the reason they do the recaps is for retention of the ADD-riddled viewing audience post-commercial break.

"What was this I was watching? Airplanes? I'm lost..." *click*...next channel.

It also helps retain viewers who may be tuning in late. A good quick setup could lock someone in the for rest of the episode. It does get a little annoying, but I don't mind. Shit, sometimes I forget what just happened too.

Shit, sometimes I forget what just happened too.

That just means you're getting older.

Zane wrote:I think the reason they do the recaps is for retention of the ADD-riddled viewing audience post-commercial break.

"What was this I was watching? Airplanes? I'm lost..." *click*...next channel.

It also helps retain viewers who may be tuning in late. A good quick setup could lock someone in the for rest of the episode. It does get a little annoying, but I don't mind. Shit, sometimes I forget what just happened too.

Also good points Zane.

not to put any of the flying down and I respect any pilot who flies commercial or private up there but I haven't seen a strip yet that actually looks all that tough... I mean Elk City in Idaho has a dog leg.. been ther dozens of times.. Wilson Bar is short and narrow as is Big Bar.. not that big a deal...Cabin creek is up hill and one way only, been there dozens of times too.. and truth be told I bet Jim doesn't consider the strips all that tough either but for drama sake I guess they have to make it look harder than it is... Now landing on the gravel bars and hydroplaning on a river to slow down before hitting the sand bars is a challenge and I wouldn't do it but that's why they have my respect.. What really makes Alaska flying dicier, I suspect is the damn wind...

There has been an initiative ongoing in AK for many years to upgrade EVERY rural runway to roughly 4,000 feet in length. The idea was to permit operations by larger aircraft, for example fuel tankers. Many of the interior villages get their heating oil (and pampers and beer) in airplanes like DC-4/6, etc. That initiative is almost complete. Almost every village (like tiny Birch Creek, population of about 60) now has a 4000 foot runway.

The challenges that Alaska commercial aviators face are generally the ENROUTE portion of the flight (and/or FINDING the dang runway). Also, while there are a few pretty tough air strips in the lower 48, no doubt, there is very little real off airport operation down here, and LOTS of that in AK, even by 135 folks.

Finally, even a 4000 foot by 100 foot strip may not be very friendly in a 30 knot crosswind and a mile vis with low ceilings. ANd, that's the kind of weather those folks fly in....regularly.

Flying is simply different wherever you go. When I moved off the AK Peninsula to Kodiak, I thought Kodiak was great, cause it wasn't very windy. Compared to CDB, that is. I moved to the interior, and missed the coast, where I could fly at 200 feet and hug the coast in lousy vis, and know where I was all the time.

Every place offers it's challenges. In Alaska--it's the weather in one form or another that will make you earn your pay most days.

MTV

I sit in my cabin here in the Wrangell Mountains with -35*F and watch the world go by on my satellite internet connection. Here, 800 miles to the north, Iditirod mushers are now on the leg to Tweeto's Unalakleet having passed through Anvik as pictured below.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/i ... nding-lead

Now that is a great shot! I finally caught up on all the episodes while home sick this last week. Overall, a pretty good show. I especially like that when explaining stalls, for example, that their illustrations are correct. Hopefully some general public education is taking place. I'm with Zane though...I would love to see more off airport footage!

Nizina, that is a great photo! It really captures a feeling.

Zane wrote:Nizina, that is a great photo! It really captures a feeling.

Would that feeling be . . . COLD?

A really nice perspective on Alaska flying, written by one of Noel Wein's grandsons, complete with some of his grandfather's photos: http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/cockp ... n-and-now/

MTV

Alright Caravan drivers on the last Flying wild I noticed while landing just below the instruments and between the pilots right knee and throttle quad there was a control looked like it was pulled out about 6"-8" had a black T handle on it. What does it control?

Alright Caravan drivers on the last Flying wild I noticed while landing just below the instruments and between the pilots right knee and throttle quad there was a control looked like it was pulled out about 6"-8" had a black T handle on it. What does it control?

Glidergeek wrote:Alright Caravan drivers on the last Flying wild I noticed while landing just below the instruments and between the pilots right knee and throttle quad there was a control looked like it was pulled out about 6"-8" had a black T handle on it. What does it control?

Inertial particle separator control.

MTV

mtv wrote:

Glidergeek wrote:Alright Caravan drivers on the last Flying wild I noticed while landing just below the instruments and between the pilots right knee and throttle quad there was a control looked like it was pulled out about 6"-8" had a black T handle on it. What does it control?

Inertial particle separator control.

MTV

Dust control

mtv wrote:A really nice perspective on Alaska flying, written by one of Noel Wein's grandsons, complete with some of his grandfather's photos: http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/01/cockp ... n-and-now/

MTV

Nice read, thanks Mike.