We had the perfect trip from Lethbridge to Anchorage up the Alcan Highway. At least a 5 kt. tailwind and sometimes 25, the lowest ceiling was 6500 and that was on the prairie. Not much turbulence over the mountains and we flew mostly st 8,500 ft. The airplane ran great, added one qt. of oil from Texas to Anchorage. Three days from Sheridan, Wyoming and one day from Fredericksbug for a total of four flying days, two of which were over 6 hours. We never saw or heard any other airplanes except local trainers or airliners until we got to Whitehorse and there was a C-185 and a C-206 headed to Anchorage, we left them in the dust!
It was nice to have my wife, Judie, to fly some of the legs.
What i learned, it?s an easy trip if you plan and check ahead. You can depart from any airport in the USA, but eAPIS won?t take just any airport, so just put in the nearest approved departure airport from their list. Check the airports your landing at ahead, the day before. Ft. Nelson was Victoria Day weekend for three days, $50.00 call out fee. Watson Lake, no fuel for three days to replace fuel pumps. Yes, Whitehorse does have self fuel 100LL even though the chart doesn?t show it. You can get customs at Northway, but it?s limited. I could only get clearance at 0900 and I didn?t find out until 0730 and it?s 1.6 from Whitehorse, by the way the customs number is good 24 hours. Their website is confusing and leaves the impression that they don?t open until 8. Depart Whitehorse, land Tok, runway is paved, get fuel and go to Fairbanks or Anchorage and clear. Be sure you call from Whitehorse. Anchorage customs, passport, pilots license, good to go. ATC, be firm, they tried to run me out into the gulf, I refused the clearance and told them I wanted to go direct. I said I don?t think I can catch the Boeing 747 I?m following, but if you don?t like 20 mile finals over water, tell them so. The 74 was at the gate, shut down before I landed. Customs is at gate November 2, west of the tower.
More later.
It was nice to have my wife, Judie, to fly some of the legs.
What i learned, it?s an easy trip if you plan and check ahead. You can depart from any airport in the USA, but eAPIS won?t take just any airport, so just put in the nearest approved departure airport from their list. Check the airports your landing at ahead, the day before. Ft. Nelson was Victoria Day weekend for three days, $50.00 call out fee. Watson Lake, no fuel for three days to replace fuel pumps. Yes, Whitehorse does have self fuel 100LL even though the chart doesn?t show it. You can get customs at Northway, but it?s limited. I could only get clearance at 0900 and I didn?t find out until 0730 and it?s 1.6 from Whitehorse, by the way the customs number is good 24 hours. Their website is confusing and leaves the impression that they don?t open until 8. Depart Whitehorse, land Tok, runway is paved, get fuel and go to Fairbanks or Anchorage and clear. Be sure you call from Whitehorse. Anchorage customs, passport, pilots license, good to go. ATC, be firm, they tried to run me out into the gulf, I refused the clearance and told them I wanted to go direct. I said I don?t think I can catch the Boeing 747 I?m following, but if you don?t like 20 mile finals over water, tell them so. The 74 was at the gate, shut down before I landed. Customs is at gate November 2, west of the tower.
More later.