Alaska by “Beaver”
So
you want to be a “Bush Pilot”
by Bill Odell
Sr. Capt. BGA 030
This flight is made many times a year, summer, fall, winter or spring
by pilots flying light planes. One
gentleman from Michigan , has flown this flight at least eight times that I
know of, in a Taylorcraft. The route I have selected is for a four passenger, single engine light
plane. When I started this five or six
years ago the Cub was what I had intended, but after studying the Canadian and
Alaska publications that outlined equipment, clothing and food requirements,
and the need to camp out ( and you really should at many of the sites), the
minimum size plane to carry all this had to be at least four seats, with two passengers. My favorite,the de Haviland DHC-2 - Beaver was
selected.
The route generally follows the “Alaskan Highway” and should be flown a
little over tree top level to enjoy the scenery. With that in mind all of our flights will be flown at 4500',.
Another given, when flying in valleys or passes, it is mandatory you fly on the
Right side to avoid a head on.
Our jumping off spot will be “Cut Bank, Montana”, after a short flight
of about 65 miles we will land at “Lethbridge, Alberta” where we clear Canadian
Customs. Suggest you call ahead to
insure that Customs is waiting for you, they usually ask for your arrival time
and they stick to that. Check in with
Flight Service, they are wonderful people and have all the answers to your
questions and probably a few publications that you missed. I further
suggest you obtain Canada Enroute Low Altitude charts LO 1 & 2 and
LO5 & 6. The FSS will give you a complete briefing on weather and any
Notams in effect.
From here on our route is as follows: Spring Bank, Rocky Mountain
House, White Court, Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson
(up to here the flight has been over more or less flat terrain - but now we get
into the mountains following the Alaskan Highway), Toad River (about the only
strip that wouldn’t handle a DC-3), Watson Lake, Teslin, Whitehorse, Haines
Junction, Burwash Landing and Beaver
Creek where you want to clear Canadian Customs on your return flight, call
ahead from Northway. After Beaver Creek
we cross the border with Alaska and have a a short flight of 38 miles to
Northway, Alaska.
Northway was a major base in
Alaska during WWII for ferrying aircraft that were lend -lease to Russia and
transporting troops and supplies to our bases in Alaska. At Northway you might
run across “Evert’s Air Fuel” C-46.
They have fitted large fuel tanks in this aircraft and deliver fuel to the strips that don’t have
roads to them. They just pull a fuel
truck up to the plane and fill it with fuel, pumping through a “water
pump”.
Now
let’s get flying!
For this flight set the season for the summer. If you are daring, after you have loaded
your flight plan, set the weather to Real Weather, more fun this way.
KCTB - CYQL
[Cut Bank, Montana – Lethridge, Alberta]
Lethbridge Airport data: Elevation 3,044' Distance from Cut Bank 63 nmVOR –YQL
115.7
RWY 5/23 6500' ILS
freq 109.5 Heading 052
RWY 12/30 5500'
Cut Bank has two runways, 5/23
5299' and 13/31 5300', there is a VOR 114.4, 2.4 miles from FAF on rwy 31. Our elevation is 3854', the MSA is 6000' in
the NW quadrant, 6500' in the SW quadrant and 5000' in the east. During WWII Cut Bank was a B-17 training
base
The first destination is Lethbridge, Alberta. Our flight plan is RWY 5, climb to 4500' turn to a heading of 327
deg . on Lethbridge VOR YQL 115.7.
After
landing, as you taxi to the ramp you will see two flag poles ahead of you, one
with the Flag of Canada, This is where
the Custom Agent will meet you and check you out. Please have all completed forms and documentation ready when he
arrives. To clear Canadian Customs you will need:
-Passport or Birth Certificate
-Pilot License
-Current Medical License
-A/C Air Worthiness and Registration
-Fire Arms Declaration (Hand guns and automatic weapons forbidden and
will be confiscated)
-Fire Arms On Board
-If you have a weapon you must purchase either a temporary license,
valid for sixty days, or a regular license for 5 years.
Once clear of Customs, proceed
to Flight Service for a briefing on your next leg, check of your flight plan
and weather briefing. It is a very
pleasant place, and now based on your flight plan you can either depart or find
some place to eat or whatever. We
bypass Calgary and most other larger airports, our next destination being
Spring Bank which is west of Calgary.
CYQL - CYBW [Lethridge – Springbank]
Springbank Airport Data: Elevation 3937' Distance from Lethbridge 117 nm
RWY 7/35 3400'
RWY 16/34 3000'
Lined up on RWY 5 at Lethbridge.
Our flight plan is RWY 5, climb to 4500' turn to a heading of 298 deg to
DARNIN which is 55.9 nm. At DARNIN we
turn to 311 deg . for Springbank 54.8 miles.
We will be landing on RWY 34.
CYBW - CYRM [Springbank- Rocky Mountain House]
Rocky Mountain House Airport Data: Elevation 3242' Distance
from Springbank 107 nm
RWY 13/31 6400'
Taking off on RWY 7. Our flight
plan has us picking up YYC 116.7 radial 68, at YYC pickup outbound radial 308
to MADYA 27 nm, at MADYA pickup YRM 114.3 radial 318 to CYRM. Landing on RWY 31.
Rocky Mountain House is a very nice town, with good hotels, food and
shops. There are also camping
facilities. Fire Bombing aircraft are
usually stationed here during the forest fire season.
CYRM -CYZU
[Rocky Mountain House -
White Court]
White Court Airport Data: Elevation 2567' Distance
from Rocky Mountain Horse - 115.7nm
VOR YZU
112.5 NDB FM 304
RWY 11/29 5800'
On RWY 26, climbing to 4500'.
Our flight plan, pickup YRM
114.3 radial 264, at YRM turn to outbound radial 329. Pickup YZU radial 329. Land on RWY 29.
White Court has very nice camping and bath facilities. There is also an excellent FSS here also.
CYZU - CYQU [White Court - Grand Prairie]
Grand
Prairie Airport Data: Elevation
2195' Distance from
White Court -124.6 nm
VOR YQU
113.1 (not at airport) NDB QU 221
RWY 11 6500'
RWY 29 6500' ILS 109.9 Heading
291
RWY 7 6200'
RWY 25 6200'
Takeoff on RWY 11 climbing to 4500'.
Our flight plan is to pickup YZU 112.5 outbound radial 278 to Jinna then
pickup YQU 113.1 radial 280 to Grand Prairie.
Land on RWY 29.
Grand Prairie is a very nice Airport with
taxi facilities to town were there are nice hotels, restaurants and shops.
CYQU - CYDQ [Grand Prairie - Dawson
Creek]
Dawson Creek Airport Data: Elevation 2148' Distance from Grand Prairie 56.8 nm
NDB 394
not at airport
RWY 6/24 5000'
RWY 6R/24L 2300'
grass
Take off on RWY 11 climbing to 4500'.
Pickup YQU radial 287 to Dawson.
Just over the hill will be Dawson Creek , land on RWY24.
Mile post 0 on the Alaska Hwy is located near the center of town at a
traffic light. Engineer units of the US
Army were quartered in Dawson Creek for the construction of the
Alaskan Highway. A few years later some
of these troops were assigned to my unit.
There is a very good restaurant at the airstrip.
We are only stopping at Dawson Creek because this is where the famous
Alaska Highway begins. We used to call
it the ALCAN Highway, don’t know when they changed it. Plus you have probably seen Dawson Creek in
all the old Gold rush movies.
CYDQ - CYXJ [Dawson Creek - Fort St John]
Fort St John Airport Data: Elevation 2280' Distance from Dawson Creek 35.5 nm
VOR
YXJ 114.2
NDB XJ 326
RWY 11 6900'
RWY 29 6900' ILS 109.5 Heading
290
RWY 2 6700'
RWY 20 6700'
We are stopping at Fort St John to check with FSS on our next couple of
legs as we will get into the mountains after Fort Nelson.
CYXJ - CYYE [Fort St John - Fort Nelson]
Fort Nelson Airport Data: Elevation 1253' Distance from Fort St John 188.9 nm
VOR YYE 112.9
NDB HH 382
RWY 3 6400' ILS 110.3 Heading
029
RWY 21 6400
(The other rwy shows
on FS but actually it is closed)
From Fort Nelson we will be flying in the mountains primarily in the
valleys. Unfortunately FS does not show
all of the Alaskan Highway, just segments as you have noticed. We should do better in the mountains.
CYYE - CBK7 [Fort Nelson - Toad River]
Toad River Airport data: Elevation 2400' Distance from Fort Nelson 82.2
RWY 7/25 3000'
So far the flying has been easy, not much different than what you do
all the time. Well now we separate the
men from the boys. We are going to fly
the Alaska Highway to Toad River. Toad
river is actually Mileage marker 422 on the Alaska Highway. Warning – follow the highway, don’t decide
to take a short cut, that valley might be a box canyon. It is a quite a bit longer, but I assure you
this is going to be the most fun you have had flying and the most challenging
so far.
So as to our flight plan I would suggest that you put the GPS on (only
as a reference at 4500' don’t follow it or you won’t make it. Take off on RWY 3 climb to 4500'. Put the auto pilot on only to hold you at
4500'. Turn to 240 degrees and locate
the Alaska Highway. Now go to full
screen and follow the yellow brick road.
Land on RWY 25. Be very careful
here as the descent must be following the road then slip over to the
runway. You will see what I mean.
Toad River runs along side the
Alaska Highway. It is normal procedure
to have the extra person in your plane to stand road guard as you taxi across
the highway to refuel at the gas station. There is an excellent restaurant and
some cabins here also.
CBK7 - CYQH [Toad Lake -
Watson Lake]
Watson Lake Airport data: Elevation 2262' Distance
from Toad Lake 133 nm
VOR YQH
114.9
NDB QH 248
RWY 8 5500' ILS 110.3 Heading 078
RWY 26 5500'
RWY 8L/26R 2000' Dirt
Our flight plan has us on a heading of 278 deg to Watson Lake. We will climb out to 4500' and follow the
Alaska Highway. I mentioned about using
the GPS and AP (altitude only). OK!
Here we go. Don’t make your turns too
sharp, sort of feel for the valley walls, they creep up in a hurry. Use the excellent view out of the side
window on the Beaver. Some fun
eh! It doesn’t get much better ion FS
than this. About 76 dme Watson Lake we
come up on a road junction, take the right as the left runs out quickly. At about 72.5 there is a gap in the road on
FS but it will pick up again. Until it
starts again take a heading of 253 deg..
Do you see it off to the left about 40 dme? Lets get over there and pick it up again. “On The Road Again!” Watson Lake airport ahead on right. Lets land on 26.
CYQH - CYZW [Watson Lake -
Teslin Lake]
Teslin Lake Airport data: Elevation 2313' Distance From Watson Lake 117 nm
NDB ZW
269
RWY 8/26 5000'
Gravel
Take off on RWY 26 climbing to 4500' with a left turnout to intercept
the Alaska Highway. Follow to Teslin
Lake. Well it look’s like the Highway
has panned out again so lets continue on as close to 245 deg through the
valleys and see how we do. I have found
a river that I am following. This is
Bush Flying at its best in the best Bush Plane a Beaver, think Capt Joe should
promote anyone completing this to Master Bush Pilot! I have the RWY in sight.
Did you see all those white things flying around? Or was I seeing angels.
What is at Teslin Lake? Well Teslin Lake has a prison, a bar, a bucking
bronco machine and truck stop.
CYZW - CYXY [Teslin Lake - White Horse]
Whitehorse Airport Data: Elevation 2305' Distance from Teslin Lake 76.7nm
VOR YXY 116.6
NDB XY
302
RWY 13R 7200'
RWY 31L 7200' ILS 109.5 Heading 310
RWY 13L 4000
RWY 31R 4000
RWY 1 2075
Taking off from RWY 26, climb to 4500' Take a heading of 267 and fly
the valleys and passes to Whitehorse.
Hope you guy’s are still with me, hate to think of you being hung op an
canyon wall. Look’s pretty good from
here on in, a nice flat wide valley until that last mountain ahead. We will be landing on RWY 31 L
CYXY -CYHT [Whitehorse - Haines
Junction]
Haines Junction Airport data: Elevation 2150' Distance from
Whitehorse 72.9 nm
RWY 4/22
5000'
Take off on RWY 16, climbing turn to 244 deg. Altitude 4500'
Hope you found the highway and are following it.
Look at the snow in those mountains ahead. We are landing on RWY 22.
CYHT - CYDB [Haines Junction - Burwash
Landing]
Burwash Landing Airport Data: Elevation 2647' Distance from
Haines Junction 56.2
NDB HH 341
RWY 10/28 5000'
Take off on RWY 22 make a climbing turn to 280 deg and 4500'. Follow the highway. Hey which one? Well they are both heading in the same direction, I’ll go with
the left. If you wonder just where you
are, since you never heard of Burwash Landing, try 100 miles east of Yakutut,
Alaska. Well the road on the right is
continuing while the one on the left has stopped. I told you to take the right one.
This is a pretty approach, almost straight in across the lake. We are using 28.
CYDB - CYXQ [Burwash Landing - Beaver Creek]
Beaver Creek Airport Data: Elevation 2129' Distance from Burwash
Landing 81.1
NDB YXQ
239
RWY 13/31 3740'
Take off on 28 straight out to 4500' , turn to 292 and pickup the
highway to Beaver Creek.
Landing on 31.
CYXQ - PAOR [Beaver
Creek - Northway, Alaska
Northway Airport Data: Elevation 1716' Distance from Beaver Creek 44.3 nm
VOR ORT 116.3
NDB 390
RWY 4/22 5100'
Take off on RWY 31 straight out, climbing to 4500'. Pickup the Alaska Highway to Northway.
Just crossed the Border with Alaska.
RWY 22
Taxi to the rampand check in with customs, close flight plan at
FSS. You you should have closed all
flight plans as you completed them for the flight.
Now that you have completed this epic flight, Congratulate yourself, you have just flown to Alaska at 4500'
following the Alaskan Highway, well mostly, which is outstanding if you
consider that most of the flight was in the mountains and you were hunting and
searching for the correct valley.
Now a couple of How abouts.
1. How about turning around and fly back to Cut Bank?
2. Move the date ahead to the middle of February and do it over? Yes there will be snow, lots of it.
Well for me, I am going to fly back, might fly over a few of the small
strips.
Thanks for the company, I enjoyed every minute of this flight.
Bill Odell
Report your hours to
Capt John Williams – Director of the Alaska Division and also to your own
Division for inclusion in the Division Roster.
Click on the Alaska
Division link on the links page.
The pilots report is
at the top of the Pilots Lounge page.
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