I'm flying my amphib 182 up to Alaska for the first time, departing late July (like a week or so from today). I called CBP in Ketchikan and they don't have their own floatplane dock and per airnav, there are no public floatplane docks. The CBP officer said to proceed to a privately operated floatplane dock and clear customs there. He of course didn't want to recommend one over the other. He just said that there are a lot of them.

Any recommendations or suggestions? I will likely want fuel and to just tie up for a couple of hours.

Pierre

Amphib?

Just land at the airport. Customs is right there above the FBO.

TangoFox wrote:Amphib?

Just land at the airport. Customs is right there above the FBO.

Thanks, sound advice, but . . .

I have a couple of things to do within walking distance of the seaplane docks. Don't want to hassle with the travel from the airport. Plus, just for romantic reasons, I want my first ever landing in Alaska to be on water!

Pierre

The only public dock is the airport float dock, but you might try Dyon's/Misty Fjord Air.

Promech Air is gonna let me tie up at their dock. Director of Ops Clark Hassell was very helpful and provided a great brief on flying in. They don't sell fuel.

I get the sense they don't want to encourage this as it gets busy on that side. I think being high time and Commercial rated helped.

I just got back from the area and here is my $0.02 ...

"Aero Services" FBO ramp at PAKT is a great place for fuel/customs/tiedowns. As stated, many times, the ferry is $6

I would just land on wheels, clear customs and get fuel after entering the U.S. at Aero Services. Then go explore on floats. There is a billion places to use your floats, I personally would stay clear of the commercial docks. There is NO reason to "hand jam" it downtown in an amphibious aircraft.

Here is a long dramatic video of the Ketchikan area..Have a great trip!

Thanks for the video. Just watched it again as part of my brief. We chickened out over Prince Rupert yesterday. Light rain became moderate and viz dropped. Up here, even 5 sm seems eerie and I realized I was starting to rely on the 50 year old vacuum-driven AI from time to time, so we put down in Seal Cove and tied up for the night in the best hotel in Rupert.

This morning's PAKT METAR started out with 1 3/4 sm. It's improved now and we're planning to launch.

My girlfriend Laura started a Facebook page to keep her/our friends posted on the trip. More pix should be up soon. It's been great so far. The flight up the long channel (Grenville?) under ceilings was stunning, with waterfalls and gorgeous scenery. Can hardly wait for the next day.

Loving my recent 696 installation.

Pierre

We created a Facebook page where we plan to upload photos and comments.

https://m.facebook.com/AlaskanAdventure2015

SPOT link here: https://share.findmespot.com/shared/fac ... 5KFquxzBYq

Glad you are in BC! Your SPOT needs a password? Nice pictures!

Oh yeah. SPOT password is kitfox.

What you'll see is that A. I forgot to turn it off, so it pinged til it died at Seal Cove seaplane base, and B. We made an attempt for Ketchikan today once the rain let up but while it wasn't too bad here and at Ketchikan, in between it was what one of the local Beaver drivers called "shitty".

Down to 2-300' and it still turned into a milk bottle, lost sight of the islands. Oh well, Prince Rupert is kinda growing on us!

Pierre

Pierre_R wrote:Oh yeah. SPOT password is kitfox.

What you'll see is that A. I forgot to turn it off, so it pinged til it died at Seal Cove seaplane base, and B. We made an attempt for Ketchikan today once the rain let up but while it wasn't too bad here and at Ketchikan, in between it was what one of the local Beaver drivers called "shitty".

Down to 2-300' and it still turned into a milk bottle, lost sight of the islands. Oh well, Prince Rupert is kinda growing on us!

Pierre

You are really close to Alaska! Keep up the good work, nothing wrong with flying safe and comfortable. I got caught in some low ceilings and had to file a "special" in Campbell River. I would not do it again, very uncomfortable but, legal.

If you get a chance fly up the Skeena River, it is mind boggling beautiful.



A few video stills of Skeena River Valley and some PAKT video mixed in...

Might be too late to help you, BUT, when I flew to Anchorage in June of 2010 I had been a member of Alaska Airmen Association,
http://www.alaskaairmen.org/. For the majority of my stay in Anchorage I docked my plane at the AAA's dock. They also were very helpful with info and suggestions. Have Fun. FF

Good tip. I joined Alaska Airmen while at their show in May.

Currently in Cordova. Our favorite town so far. Flew up the coast from Gustavus. Stunning. Have stayed at two remote cabins. On to Talkeetna.
Pierre

Very amazing! Good work.

The past two days have been the most spectacular flying of my life! Yesterday we had to turn around at Whittier because Portage Pass was socked in. Couldn't even get to the little gravel strip at Whittier. Wound up in Valdez.

Was planning to overnight in Valdez as the Thompson Pass webcam never improved much. As we were grabbing stuff out of the plane about 1730, the young line guy tells us he just drove over Thompson pass and it wasnt bad. He says the webcam always looks worse. I normally don't take flying weather advice from non pilots but this kid was very sincere and he also suggested Martin pass just east of Thompson.

So we launched for one of the more exhilarating flights ever! Barely maintaining viz at times, trying to determine which canyon was the right one, my trusty right seat navigator Laura was very helpful matching the terrain to the sectional. Broke over a 2,000' ridge and followed the Tasnuna river to the Copper. Spectacular! Landed on the gravel strip at Chitina and used the sat phone to call my kid in Nevada who looked up the hotel Chitina and gave me the number. Owner and innkeeper extraordinaire Susan Gilpatrick came and got us (her German Shepherd rode on Laura's lap). Great dinner of exceptionally well prepared fresh Copper river red salmon (one piccata, one rubbed and blackened). Then to Tom's saloon for great story swapping. Tom has the 1956 172 taildragger parked at the strip. He's driving us back up to the strip this morning after we're done feasting on the hotel breakfast. Love Chitina!

Still taking it day to day without a plan. Maybe Talkeetna. If Denalipilot is around, we'd love to buy you a beer!

Pierre R

Saw you take off on 29 at Gustavus a couple of days ago. Nice bird, we remarked how short the ground run was and subsequent climb out was also impressive considering your probable load and lugging those boats around.

Hey GBflyer!

Sorry I missed you. I either didn't realize or forgot you're in Gustavus. Would have enjoyed meeting you. Friendly folks in that town for sure. I got to jog out to the site of the 1950's Air Force C-47 wreck that is largely still intact, with trees all grown up around it. Eerie!

Sorry the FB page didn't get kept up. Not much internet on the trip. Will try to catch up tomorrow. We landed back home in Minden at sunset Tuesday night after 22 days, about 5,500 miles and 50 hours of flying!



Stayed eight nights at three different Alaska public lake cabins (Checats Lake, Anan Lake, and Lynx Lake). Other nights spent at hotels, motels, lodges, and cabins. Ended up not using the tent.



One of the highlights was climbing out of Lynx Lake (West of Wasilla) up over a cloud deck, and circling Denali at 13,500 to 14,000 MSL! In a float plane! I didn't want to fly back south 50 miles to get under the cloud deck to visit Talkeetna, so I spotted the head of the Kahiltna glacier, dove down under the deck into the glacier and followed it, like a tunnel down to lower ground and on to Talkeetna.



I had just finished reading "Wager with the Wind" (the Don Sheldon story) so it was very special when Elizabeth at the Sheldon air counter let me in the hangar to check out his old Super Cub on skis! The TAT pilots were also friendly.



Loved Cordova. Love Chitina--spent two nights waiting for Tahneta pass to open up at the Hotel Chitina with innkeeper extraordinaire Susan Gilpatrick and made friends with saloon keeper Tom Wesner and his wife. McCarthy and Kennicott are cool.

Scott at Peninsula Avionics in Kenai is a very nice guy who runs a first class shop. They replaced both PTT switches which had gone intermittent. Tossed me the keys to his Jeep so we could run down the street for good Thai food. Then after circling Redoubt volcano and splashing into Crescent lake, we finally spotted a big brown bear with a salmon in his mouth along Tuxedni Bay. Thanks to BorntoflyAK for the tip on where to spot bears.

Memorable Alaska moment was sitting outside the cabin on Lynx Lake, playing cards on the picnic table, campfire going, music playing, when a bull moose walks along the shoreline, 12 steps from where we sat, steps over my float and the line tying it to shore, and just ignores us. We scrambled for the camera and got one bad image, but it proves we didn't just have too much bag wine!



To CBfraser, thanks for the BC advice. I think next summer we'll do a whole trip just in BC. Love the whole east side of the coast range. Stayed one night at Nimpo Lake.

Pierre

8GCBC: Thanks, I think. "BONZER!" sounds like a compliment!

Everything you accomplished is fascinating. You are definitely thinking out of the typical "Backcountrypilot" box!

Very good work! Yes, the Australia word "Bonzer" is a huge compliment!

Glad you are back safely!

Until I get around to a proper trip report, I had to post this one picture taken on the Cook Inlet. FB page has been updated with photos.

Pierre

PS. Back to the original topic of this thread. After being turned down by others, we were welcomed to the Promech dock in Ketchikan. Ops director Clark Haskell provided great notes in his reply, to ensure I followed the standard patterns in and out. They allowed us to tie up at their dock while we walked to the stores to buy groceries, fishing supplies, and Frontier Shipping. Used the Promech dock twice. They are friendly and I feel are still hurting from this summer's tragedy.