BLI-ANC

Well here is some info for ya m77y...

I was in the Alaska group last summer at AA. We flew the same route you are planning so you should be good with that. I'm sure you are already aware that you can't file an alternate going to Ketchikan so you have to wait for a day where the weather is good enough to get in on the first try. Ketchikan has an FSS on the field that gives you traffic advisories, but they don't clear you to land or anything. Just make normal uncontrolled field callouts and acknowledge what they tell you. Unfortunately, the freezing levels were too low to continue the rest of the way so we just followed the waterways up to Juneau...it was actually pretty fun. The weather was pretty crapped up the Yakutat so we just stayed low up the coast and did it Flying Wild Alaska style. We got stuck in Yakutat and had to work a deal to get hangar space from a guy on the field and stayed in some plywood fishing lodge. Prince William Sound is always socked in so we had to get pretty creative. North of the sound was fine, so we took a 40 mile pass east of Cordova up to Gulkana to get fuel and then is was fine over to Ancorage.

Coming back was just as big of a pain in the ass so I feel pretty sorry for you, but it will be an adventure.
 
MedicRyan said:
Well here is some info for ya m77y...

I was in the Alaska group last summer at AA. We flew the same route you are planning so you should be good with that. I'm sure you are already aware that you can't file an alternate going to Ketchikan so you have to wait for a day where the weather is good enough to get in on the first try. Ketchikan has an FSS on the field that gives you traffic advisories, but they don't clear you to land or anything. Just make normal uncontrolled field callouts and acknowledge what they tell you. Unfortunately, the freezing levels were too low to continue the rest of the way so we just followed the waterways up to Juneau...it was actually pretty fun. The weather was pretty crapped up the Yakutat so we just stayed low up the coast and did it Flying Wild Alaska style. We got stuck in Yakutat and had to work a deal to get hangar space from a guy on the field and stayed in some plywood fishing lodge. Prince William Sound is always socked in so we had to get pretty creative. North of the sound was fine, so we took a 40 mile pass east of Cordova up to Gulkana to get fuel and then is was fine over to Ancorage.

Coming back was just as big of a pain in the ass so I feel pretty sorry for you, but it will be an adventure.
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Thanks dude! Im going alone as of right now. Not to thrilled about it, especially since hotels in ANC are 150+. I talked to them earlier about it and they are going to explore the option of sending a second plane. I talked with PC earlier and it sounds like hes going too, just doesnt know when.
 
Oh that would be sweet. Ya I think i'm still on the seniority list so give me a call anytime, but PC, ZW, KW all went too so they should be able to give you the scoop.
 
Does the truck not have the fuel to do BLI-AKT+Alternate? Wrangell and Klawock are not that much further.
 
z987k said:
Does the truck not have the fuel to do BLI-AKT+Alternate? Wrangell and Klawock are not that much further.
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Well we had no idea what we we're doing and they didn't want us in Canadia. To us it looked like we would have been well into our miniums if we went much further.
 
Expect to be off radar for most of the trip from Ketchikan up. Study all the approaches as you will not get a vector to final till Anchorage. There is the usual potential for ice, wide spread fog, high winds, and heavy rain; either separate or all together. So build some leeway into your schedule. Once again, expect to fly the full procedure on the plate, and have a understanding of all the airports in Southeast in case you need to divert. If your just gas n go, Sitka is a better bet than Juneau, Yakatuat is self serve, and there is no AvGas at the paved runway in Cordova. Now with all that said, if you happen to be lucky enough to catch it on a clear day, it will be the most amazing trip you will ever take in a airplane bar none.
 
Capt. Chaos speaks truth. If he's out at the airport when you're traveling through KTN he'd by a good guy to chat with about ways north to SIT or JNU.

Roger Roger is a good contact in JNU as well.

If I was still in ANC I'd gladly loan you a couch so you could save some coin, having done the Picto thing I know how life on the road can be.

Check out Ace Hangars at Merrill Field. They've got both hangar space and hotel rooms on the field so they may cut you a deal. There's a grocery story about a block away. Also, if you really want to save some coin there are camping spots on the field.
 
m77y said:
Hey guys! I was informed today that I will be flying a Piper Aztec up to ANC. Im looking at going Bellingham WA- Ketchikan AK- Juneau AK- Yakutat AK- ANC. I would be lying if I said that im not somewhat intimidated by flying up in Alaska and wanted to see if any of you guys had any tips or advise about what to expect. Thanks in advance guys!
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Just did this trip a month ago give me a pm and I'll fill ya in.
 
ppragman said:
Just did this trip a month ago give me a pm and I'll fill ya in.
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I did PDX-ANC a week ago. I stopped in JNU because I felt like it, but with the winds I had the fuel for direct.... kind of takes the fun out of it.
 
Looks like im heading out on thursday. I flew from Reno to Everett WA today and the weather here in WA doesnt look very promising for tomorrow.
 
z987k said:
UAL747400 Jfk-Pilot stormchaser fresh picto blood!
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Agh, I've been off the radar for three weeks!!! Very jealous of your trip. I have numerous hours in 93Y and 87Y.

Be professional about the trip. Plan hard. Have back-ups for back-ups. Pick PC's brain...he is there to help and has done it.

Best of all, just have fun. You better make sure your batteries in your camera are fully-charged! :)
 
Just made it into ANC today. The best advice that I received was the bring a camera! You cant beat the scenery on the flight up here. I left yesterday morning and to my surprise I had a tailwind and was able to go KPAE-PAKN with no trouble at all. After that I did the quick hop PAKT-PAJN for an overnight. This morning I set off on the last leg of the journey PAJN-PANC.

Overall it was a great trip and I look forward to the trip back when the time comes! This trip ranks up there for the best 10 hours in my logbook! Thanks again for the advice guys!
 
m77y said:
Just made it into ANC today. The best advice that I received was the bring a camera! You cant beat the scenery on the flight up here. I left yesterday morning and to my surprise I had a tailwind and was able to go KPAE-PAKN with no trouble at all. After that I did the quick hop PAKT-PAJN for an overnight. This morning I set off on the last leg of the journey PAJN-PANC.

Overall it was a great trip and I look forward to the trip back when the time comes! This trip ranks up there for the best 10 hours in my logbook! Thanks again for the advice guys!
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Glad to hear you made it alright. Are you going to post pictures??
 
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