.

glacier wrote:Just a couple quick airport mentions, and then a border crossing question:

1) If you follow the same routing as described here, keep Omak as an alternate to Dorthy Scott. For the off season, it is more reliably plowed and will have fuel.

2) For the purely coastal route, Denny Island Aerodrome is a paved and generally unattended runway just south of Bella Bella. Being halfway between Washington and Ketchikan, it is good to know about in case you have some fuel with you in jugs or bags and need to top off for safety.

Question about flight plans and border crossings. Going into Alaska I used to be able to file directly with Fairbanks FSS from within Canada. Last time I entered, Fairbanks FSS told me I had to file with the Canadians, which was fine, but the plan never got transferred into the US system. Which got me wondering, can we enter without a flight plan? Eapis and make the phone call to schedule your arrival with a customs officer, yes, definitely, but does anyone really care about the flight plan?

That’s interesting. When we did it they cared, and were very adamant about it. We had to call right before departure from Dorthy Scott to get our beacon code. We filed our flight plans on ForeFlight.

Coming from Canada to AK or lower 48, we called NavCanada to file with them.


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I like it! a couple of things to add:

A weather site that is not that well known but is immensely useful for the trip up is: https://a.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/l ... cp3+//72/3 not as localized as Windtyty but really gives you a good picture of what is coming your way.

The pictures that are labeled "HoJon's spit" are actually on the north beach of Chintina. Seems like a piddly detail, but HoJon's can be very tricky and has totalled 3 206s with very experienced pilots in the last 4 years. The North Beach is a very good beach the majority of the time, and the bear viewing is usually very very good there.

Yakutat is really cool, the old hanger by the fuel station was the prototype of hangers that would be built all over the US that were known as "Yakutat Hangers" The Canadian Airforce was stationed there in WWII.

The best mexican food in the entire state is in Ketchikan the Ocean view (I recommend the chicken Molcahete), the Super 8 iin Ketchikan should be avoided at all costs, the rooms are disgusting, I really think they made the bed from the guest the night before, like, I don't believe they vacuumed, or cleaned any of the bathroom (read: hairs all around). Another BCPer had the same experience on another flight.

Headoutdaplane wrote:The pictures that are labeled "HoJon's spit" are actually on the north beach of Chintina. Seems like a piddly detail, but HoJon's can be very tricky and has totalled 3 206s with very experienced pilots in the last 4 years. The North Beach is a very good beach the majority of the time, and the bear viewing is usually very very good there.

Yakutat is really cool, the old hanger by the fuel station was the prototype of hangers that would be built all over the US that were known as "Yakutat Hangers" The Canadian Airforce was stationed there in WWII.

Awesome. Thanks Wes.

glacier wrote:
Question about flight plans and border crossings. Going into Alaska I used to be able to file directly with Fairbanks FSS from within Canada. Last time I entered, Fairbanks FSS told me I had to file with the Canadians, which was fine, but the plan never got transferred into the US system. Which got me wondering, can we enter without a flight plan? Eapis and make the phone call to schedule your arrival with a customs officer, yes, definitely, but does anyone really care about the flight plan?

My understanding from the Canadian side is:

You must be on a flight plan for border crossings. I think technically we are even meant to be on one if we overfly the US, which we do fairly often down here.

Leaving Canada you file with NavCanada and close in the US. Be aware that Canadian flight plans open automatically at the departure time that you state when you file.

Leaving US you file with Lockheed Martin and close in Canada. You must open the US flight plan yourself. Leaving the US I get given a border crossing transponder code when I am in the air.

This is my experience down in the Puget Sound area where communication is not a problem. The northern border may be different.

Live in Ft St John CYXJ, have access to grass strip, Have welcomed many pilots flying to Alaska, Have Tools, extra rooms, will pick you up. I fly to Alaska (weather permitting) every year for the Airmans and Valdez. Dieter

A quick follow up "Thank you!" to Dieter at Fort St John. He and his pilot friends are truly a gem! Dieter picked us up at our hotel and we had an excellent breakfast! I owe you breakfast & lunch Dieter! Thank you again!

Route member map added:

- daedeluscan
- allbravo
- A1skinner
- Cub180


If you offered but I missed you, please PM me.

So I guess we have to read this backwards??
Just kidding of course, I like your idea of the knowledge base, Zane! Good stuff. I'm happy to be on the map for Valdez. I can give a ride to town or direct people to resources if needed. Happy to help.

jprax wrote:So I guess we have to read this backwards??
Just kidding of course, I like your idea of the knowledge base, Zane! Good stuff. I'm happy to be on the map for Valdez. I can give a ride to town or direct people to resources if needed. Happy to help.

Right on, Joe! Will add you.