On your next inside passage trip up the BC coastline to Alaska:

No Avgas at Prince Rupert CYPR. Many pilots assume there is at such a large airport with airline service. Seal Cove Seaplane base CZSW has Avgas. Remember that the main airport is on an island. After the airlines depart for the day it is mostly abandoned until the next business day. The ferry runs on a limited schedule and it is a 2.5 mile walk from the terminal to the ferry dock. There are no taxi’s, hotels, markets, food on the island. Locals tell me of piston aircraft landing only to find no Avgas, then walk to the ferry dock, ferry across, buy Jerry cans at the hardware store, fill at Seal Cove, taxi back, ferry back, walk back with heavy cans, fuel so they can depart. A US Customs officer in Ketchikan PAKT told me people are pushing the range limits of their aircraft pretty hard with almost disastrous results. The CFS book reflects this ( for a while now), but most US pilots don’t own a copy. ( The CFS is a grey colored book and is the equivalent of a US A/FD )

“Know before you go, and share when you get there”
Safe skies!

Been that way for years. Thanks for the reminder though.

I can usually make the hop from Port Angeles to Ketchikan as long as the headwind is not too much. If there's too much wind then Port Hardy always works well. Of course if you land then you have to jump through the hoops. then in a month or two get a bill in the mail from air Canada.

Be a lot easier for you guys if America just bought BC, Hell we'll throw in Alberta too. They got lots of oil.

Sidewinder wrote:Be a lot easier for you guys if America just bought BC, Hell we'll throw in Alberta too. They got lots of oil.

Hold on now...don't be hasty...

How about we trade Quebec for Alaska and we'll toss in Toronto...hockey team, entertaining mayor and all

Seems like a fair deal

northernguy wrote:

Sidewinder wrote:Be a lot easier for you guys if America just bought BC, Hell we'll throw in Alberta too. They got lots of oil.

Hold on now...don't be hasty...

How about we trade Quebec for Alaska and we'll toss in Toronto...hockey team, entertaining mayor and all

Seems like a fair deal

We'll take Rob Ford for free!

Hmmm...I don't know....

That might just kill the Canadian entertainment industry

Pretty sure most the tourist pilots don't read the AFD either. Or bother to check on the available of TKS fluid. There is usually a few TKS machines that get stuck in KTN waiting for ice free weather in the summer.

All good replies. Thanks. True that the fuel situation has been that way for a while, but I keep getting asked by pilots about the inside passage route, as that is my primary area that my job takes me for the past 11 years. That does not in itself make me an expert... I figured I'd make a post here in hopes that it will help somebody, someplace.

Yes, going from KCLM Port Angles Wa. to PAKT Ketchikan AK is ideal and according to law, you don't have to do customs because it is considered and "over flight". Many times people press the weather and fuel because they think that if they set down in Bella Bella, for example, that Canada Custom or RCMP will tear them apart, take their plane, levy fines, etc. The complete opposite is true. 1-888-CANPASS will be happy you are alive and safe. A few standard questions, D.O.B., names of pax's, phone number, etc. will clear it all up and you can have a stiff drink in the bar. Canada customs is easy to do. CYYJ Victoria, CYCD Namaimo, CYBL Campbell River, CYZT Port Hardy= No problem. Nice people to work with.

Another note. CBBC Bella Bella ( Wag Fuel ) has also considered not carrying Avgas, and CYBD Bella Coola ( Pacific Coastal ) did stop.
Wayne at Bella Coola Air has a limited supply for himself, but will sell to the public. Best to call ahead, rather than just drop in there needing Avgas.

As always, expect a good 30 kts on the nose headed up there. Best to be on floats/anfib's if you can.
Thanks for reading.

Pacific Coastal will be putting the Gooses back on line this spring if all goes well. The plan is to have one based in Bella Bella again so I would imagine that avgas will continue to be available there. The locals like running in their boats too so there is usually a fair bit of "off sales" of the stuff. Not much for Accommodations on the Bella Bella side if a fellow was caught out in weather but a quick hop across the inlet will get you to Shearwater where there is some good accommodations.

We used to get lots of transient planes through Bella Bella in the summer (all stopping for fuel) when I was based there. Not sure how busy it is now...

Thanks BladeRunner.

The problem with the trip is definitely not Canadian Customs. It's the US side everyone is trying to avoid. Most of us on this side would trade that department for every politician in E. Canada if you'd like.

gbflyer wrote:Thanks BladeRunner.

The problem with the trip is definitely not Canadian Customs. It's the US side everyone is trying to avoid. Most of us on this side would trade that department for every politician in E. Canada if you'd like.

X2! The eAPIS Customs Border Patrol system results in more risky flying close to the edge for law abiding folks just as the FAA medical end discourages preventive medical care and early diagnosis of problems. In the name of keeping us all safe...

Mark J

BladeRunner wrote:Wayne at Bella Coola Air has a limited supply for himself, but will sell to the public.

If you see Wayne, tell him Forrest from the Manitou Creek Cannery on the Dean says HI. Good guy, good pilot.

Gump