Leaving for AK in a few weeks and was hoping to rent a sat phone for the trip. Can anyone recommend a supplier they've had a good experience with?

Don't know about your vicinity, but in Anchorage I'd call Surveyor's Exchange. The website says they rent and ship. I buy all my sat phones and service through them, and have always been pleased.

Besides emergencies, etc, it's nice to be able to file, open and close flight plans (mandatory in Canada) from the unattended grass strips along the way, if you choose to camp at them.

-DP

https://www.tse-ak.com/product-category ... te-phones/

denalipilot wrote:Besides emergencies, etc, it's nice to be able to file, open and close flight plans (mandatory in Canada) from the unattended grass strips along the way, if you choose to camp at them.

-DP

I will not get into the debate of how wise it is to fly the backcountry on a flight plan or not, Risk assessment is a very personal thing, but in the interest of keeping information accurate, I will say that this is not correct. It is entirely possible to fly the length of Canada without filing a flight plan. I have made the trip from Tok to Scott field or the other way around many times, filing only for the border crossing. the regs call for a flight plan, or flight itinerary (which will be left with a responsible party)for any flight outside of 25NM from your departure point. Leaving a non towered field you just push the knob forward. Leaving a towered field when looking for taxi permission and the nice gent wants to open your flight plan for you, you offer back that you are remaining 'local' or that you are on an itinerary .

In todays world of InReachs, SpiderTracks etc... I can see no treason to feel compelled to file a flight plan through the trench in a cub. For me, all this does is put a leash on flying that should really be relished to it's fullest. I want the ability to see an ultra cool spot, circle around and land, without the worry of whether or not I can reach a controller to extend my eta....They are exceptionally easy about this in Canada, but when you can't reach them, you're hosed. For others, I can totally understand the desire to have someone watching over them... I understand the desire for another layer of protection, but I'm glad for the provisions to be able to fly it as it fits my lifestyle and risk assessment .

Take care, Rob

the regs call for a flight plan, or flight itinerary (which will be left with a responsible party)for any flight outside of 25NM from your departure point. Leaving a non towered field you just push the knob forward.

Don't know if it's still correct, but Canada also had the 'flight notification' thru Flight Service option for flying the sparsely settled areas. That's what I usually used in the days I would fly out to work on my place on the Dean Channel. I'd file a 'flight note' for a week, ten days, whatever, and add a day just because, as a cushion before they sent anyone out to look for me. Worked like a charm.

Gump

Rob wrote:Leaving a towered field when looking for taxi permission and the nice gent wants to open your flight plan for you, you offer back that you are remaining 'local' or that you are on an itinerary .

In todays world of InReachs, SpiderTracks etc... I can see no treason to feel compelled to file a flight plan through the trench in a cub. For me, all this does is put a leash on flying that should really be relished to it's fullest. I want the ability to see an ultra cool spot, circle around and land, without the worry of whether or not I can reach a controller to extend my eta....

Since we're talking regs, let me make sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying that carrying an InReach means you are on an itinerary?

Since we're talking regs, let me make sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying that carrying an InReach means you are on an itinerary?

No, the regs say that you must have a 'Responsible Person' who is aware of your flight itinerary, and who has agreed to notify authorities if you don't check in on time.

Who that person is, and just how responsible, is entirely up to you.

Gump

To the OP- sorry for bringing up something ancillary that side-tracked your thread. I'll stand by the part that Surveyor's Exchange is worth inquiring with. As for mandatory Canadian flight plans, I stand corrected (thanks Rob and Gump).

Hope you have a great trip,

-DP

(thanks Rob and Gump).

I felt bad messing with the thread, but....

It sounds like a first AK trip, and knowing that you're not locked into mandatory flight plans may make a difference in flight planning, and enjoying the trip all that much more.

As you were.

Gump

rw2 wrote:Since we're talking regs, let me make sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying that carrying an InReach means you are on an itinerary?

Nope, just offering a thought about why I wouldn't feel compelled to use the system.

GumpAir wrote:

(thanks Rob and Gump).

I felt bad messing with the thread, but....

It sounds like a first AK trip, and knowing that you're not locked into mandatory flight plans may make a difference in flight planning, and enjoying the trip all that much more.

As you were.

Gump

Ditto.... I apologize to any and all who I've offended... this internet dance is a really really weird thing to me.... I will head on to more familiar ground

Thanks for all the info. Ordered one from Surveyor's exchange.

We had sat phone capability on all our aircraft through our skytrac installs, even let the pilots make one call home a month on it just so they'd remember how to use the capability. Wasn't great, I'd be happy with two-way texting capability if it was less cost.

I only ever file a flight plan to get across the Can/US border. Everything else is a flight itinerary filed (texted) with someone I know, with a link to my sat tracking. Along with a few canned messages (e.g.. "diverted for weather", "I'm ok here"). Tuk to Marana.

GumpAir wrote:

Since we're talking regs, let me make sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying that carrying an InReach means you are on an itinerary?

No, the regs say that you must have a 'Responsible Person' who is aware of your flight itinerary, and who has agreed to notify authorities if you don't check in on time.

Who that person is, and just how responsible, is entirely up to you.

Got it. Thanks for the clarification.