Alaskan Aviation/Pilots

[ppragman]

Originally Posted by BajtheJino

Flying in S.E. Alaska is not what I thought it would be...But nonetheless I AM cooler than most for it.

South East is not exactly the bush experience. It is very very very different from most of the flying in the state. Most of the runways are paved down here, and the airplanes are well equipped (capstone). Up north is different.

LAB is kind of an interesting outfit as well.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by ppragman

LAB is kind of an interesting outfit as well.

I dont think interesting is the right word.

[TallFlyer]

Originally Posted by Buzo

If you have access to the Elmendorf AFB aero club, they have pretty good rates.

If I had to do it al over again I would've joined CAP a LONG time ago and done all my training there.

Not to dig up the CAP issue, but CAP members do have privileges at AF Aero Clubs.

[Rudabega]

Originally Posted by ppragman

LAB is kind of an interesting outfit as well.

I thought they were shut down some time ago. Did they reopen?

[drunkenbeagle]

Originally Posted by TallFlyer

Not to dig up the CAP issue, but CAP members do have privileges at AF Aero Clubs.

Aero Clubs have pretty much gone the way of the Officer's Clubs - closed down. Not enough people using them.

[TallFlyer]

Originally Posted by drunkenbeagle

Aero Clubs have pretty much gone the way of the Officer's Clubs - closed down. Not enough people using them.

The one at Elmendorf has stayed pretty busy, multiple 172s (including one on floats), 172RG, 182, and a Seneca.

[TallFlyer]

Originally Posted by Rudabega

I thought they were shut down some time ago. Did they reopen?

Shut down last summer (2008). The rumor around here is that one of their principles has regained all his certs and is trying for another 135 cert.

[beasly]

I read that Patty Wagstaff loved flying there.


b.

[ppragman]

Originally Posted by beasly

I read that Patty Wagstaff loved flying there.


b.

She learned to fly up here from what I understand.

[alaskadrifter]

Originally Posted by ppragman

She learned to fly up here from what I understand.

In Dillingham actually. In fact my Father-In-Law uses part of her old truck as a dump trailer. He is one of the very few REAL bush pilots that I know.

[Buzo]

Originally Posted by TallFlyer

The one at Elmendorf has stayed pretty busy, multiple 172s (including one on floats), 172RG, 182, and a Seneca.

It is a good place to fly also. I taught there in 2003, and they had good equipment, and great prices.

[beasly]

Originally Posted by alaskadrifter

In Dillingham actually. In fact my Father-In-Law uses part of her old truck as a dump trailer. He is one of the very few REAL bush pilots that I know.

So real bush pilots poop in Patty Wagstaff's old pickup truck.....





Sorry, what is a "dump trailer"

Cordially,

b.

[beasly]

Do you guys get Cumiliform clouds up there in Alaska? I am from Florida and "way up north" is Jacksonville.

Curious what the wx patterns are.

Cordially,

b.

[beasly]

Originally Posted by ppragman

She learned to fly up here from what I understand.

And from what I read, she really loved it--she thought (rightly) it made her a better pilot.

b.

[ppragman]

Originally Posted by beasly

Do you guys get Cumiliform clouds up there in Alaska? I am from Florida and "way up north" is Jacksonville.

Curious what the wx patterns are.

Cordially,

b.

No real pattern, every valley is its own micro-climate, so sometimes you can VFR weather at two airports less than 50NM away and not be able to get from one to the other. I dunno, I don't really count on any patterns around here, and don't plan for any weather farther out than the TAF. However, usually the bad weather moves from west to east (in the southern coastal regions) along the Rossby wave in my experience.


Up north they get small thunderstorms occasionally in the interior (typically less than FL300 in height), and in the summer cumulus clouds form along the hills where air is being orographically (spelling?) lifted. There are some general patterns in localities, but for the most part I generally don't plan on anything staying the same for too long unless there's a big highpressure system coming in, which in the winter in ANC means clear and friggin' cold. We'll see what its indicative down here.

[beasly]

Originally Posted by ppragman

No real pattern, every valley is its own micro-climate, so sometimes you can VFR weather at two airports less than 50NM away and not be able to get from one to the other. I dunno, I don't really count on any patterns around here, and don't plan for any weather farther out than the TAF. However, usually the bad weather moves from west to east (in the southern coastal regions) along the Rossby wave in my experience.


Up north they get small thunderstorms occasionally in the interior (typically less than FL300 in height), and in the summer cumulus clouds form along the hills where air is being orographically (spelling?) lifted. There are some general patterns in localities, but for the most part I generally don't plan on anything staying the same for too long unless there's a big highpressure system coming in, which in the winter in ANC means clear and friggin' cold. We'll see what its indicative down here.

I like it, thx.

Cordially,

b.

[alaskadrifter]

Originally Posted by beasly

So real bush pilots poop in Patty Wagstaff's old pickup truck.....





Sorry, what is a "dump trailer"

Cordially,

b.

They are trailers that are used here to take garbage to the dump.

[akmountaineer]

Originally Posted by Buzo

It is a good place to fly also. I taught there in 2003, and they had good equipment, and great prices.

I agree. I just got my SES at the club a couple of months ago in their 172 and had a good time of it.

[beasly]

Originally Posted by alaskadrifter

They are trailers that are used here to take garbage to the dump.

thx.

b

[PICPaul]

Originally Posted by ppragman

unless there's a big highpressure system coming in, which in the winter in ANC means clear and friggin' cold. We'll see what its indicative down here.

That means wind, espec in the channeled areas.