USPA News

USPA FLYING TRIP TO AK

USPA IS PLANNING A FLYING TO ALASKA TRIP
YOU CAN JOIN US AND MAKE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME IN YOUR PLANE
Bob Worthington

This summer (2005), USPA will host a trip to Alaska with participants flying their own planes over the Alaska (Al-Can) Highway. While the concept may seem daunting, especially with the huge mountains in Alaska and the distance of 1800 miles, it actually is a pleasant and easy trip to make. On my first trip to Alaska, the highest I flew in the state was 5,600 feet, only 150 feet above my airport pattern altitude. My airplane was an American General Tiger, slightly faster than a 172 so a complex single or light twin is not needed. In fact, I have seen pilots do it in a 150, but they did travel light. Therefore, USPA is inviting you to join us on this trip. The deadline for deciding if you want to participate is 31 January 2005. All planning will be based on the pilots and planes that are going by that date. The only cost to sign up is a $25 fee to cover printing and mailing expenses as USPA sends you the information needed for the trip. The only requirement is ALL participants must be USPA members (individual or state affiliate) by 31 January.

If you decide to go, contact the trip coordinator, Bob Worthington, by email at rworthin@zianet.com phone 505 522 6785 or fax 505 521 9449 or mail at 1136 Cave Sprgs Trl, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Make the $25 check to USPA. Remember the 31 January deadline. The preferred way for passing info will be email but regular mail will be used for bulky info.
When: Mid July to mid August 2005. The trip can take from 12-20 days, the exact time to be determined later. How long the trip takes depends on four factors: if the planes and pilots are VFR or IFR capable, the weather, the speed of the plane, and how much the group wants to see in AK.

Where: All planes will meet in Edmonton, Alberta at a hotel on the Edmonton Intl Airport (CYEG). Flying to Edmonton will be on your own as will clearing Canadian Customs. The route will generally follow the WW II Alaska Highway, which begins at Dawson Creek, BC and ends in Delta Junction, AK. From Edmonton, we will fly to Fort Nelson to RON via Dawson Creek, and Fort St John. The next day we go to White Horse to RON via Watson Lake. The next day we will go to Northway, AK to clear US Customs. Then on to Fairbanks via Delta Jct. After Fairbanks (you might want to take a side trip to Ft Yukon, a 5800 ft gravel strip but north of the Artic Circle to say you have flown and landed in the Artic) we will fly down to Anchorage, flying past 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley. After a few days in Anchorage fly down to Homer (home of Motel 6’s Tom Bodett, of “I‘ll leave the lights on for you“ fame). Then we will reverse the process and return to Edmonton where everyone will go his or her own way home. While AK has many mountains running 10,000 to 20,000 feet, we will be flying in the valleys between the mountains and typically will not be flying over 6000-8000 feet MSL. Then once we get to AK participants may decide to go on their own which is okay.

What: The trip will cost from $5000-$10,000 per couple and plane depending on how much you want to see and how long you want to stay. The distance from Edmonton to Homer is about 2200 nautical miles, which would take about 14 hours of flying time, not counting stops in a plane that flies about 140 kts. In 1999, I flew my Mooney 231 from Las Cruces on this trip to Homer and back which took 55.4 hours burning 11.6 GPH. At today’s fuel prices of about $3.00/gal the total fuel cost would be about $35/hr or just under $2000 for the trip (which is a round trip total of about 7000 nm for me). This will not be a regimented trip where everyone must fly in a formation the entire time. USPA will provide the information to make the trip an easy one, it may also make overnight accommodation arrangements, and provide the flight planning needed. Exactly how or if we fly together depends on the qualifications of the pilots and the airplanes (fast or slow) and the desires of the people on the trip.
Flight planning info: Later on this year, USPA will provide detailed information on exactly what charts, maps, approach plates/airport diagrams, navigational books, etc will be needed. Information on clearing Customs in both the US and Canada will be provided. Information on needed survival equipment will also be provided (which amounts to camping gear, food, signaling and fishing equipment for everyone on board for two weeks) and a survival weapon is no longer required in Canada or Alaska. Flying in Canada and Alaska is easy and fun. Mid July to mid August will offer the best VFR flying. Most of the flying will be over a major highway (which you can land on legally, just do not hit a car). It is probably one of the best trips anyone can make in a small plane. It will allow you to see and do more on the trip, be more relaxed as you will not have a travel guide schedule to maintain, and be less expensive, than taking a prepackaged commercial trip.

In order to better plan what to do and the associated costs, I offer the following items be purchased or otherwise obtained.

Flight planning info: Canada and Alaska Survival Equipment Requirements… www.aopa.org/members/files/travel/cansrveq.html.

Flight Tips for Pilots in Alaska… www.aopa.org/members/files/travel/Alaska/flight_tips.html.

The best flying guide to and in Alaska is the Alaska Airmen’s Logbook. $40 from 1 800 464 7030 or www.alaskaairmen.com

The Milepost book published each year as a travel guide to driving and flying to Alaska through Canada. $26 from 1 800 726 4707 or www.themilepost.com. This is an excellent guide.

Maps and charts are available from Sportys at 1 800 776 7897 or www.sportys.com. Videos or DVDs of flying to Alaska are also available; I prefer Larry Bartlett’s flying the Alaska Highway.

Maps and charts are also available from Aviation Publication Services at 1 800 869 7453, mention you are with USPA, and the prices are less than anywhere else.

General tourist and travel info about AK is found on www.travelalaska.com .

Bob Worthington
USPA Regional VP