Alaska 2024

[a2324pilot]

This thread is the latest on the 2024 Alaska trip. After study the weather graphs I thought to avoid the mosquitos and have a better chance of sunshine departing from Edmonton on June 9, 2024, offered the best combination. That would also avoid getting into 4th of July travel if the trip went longer.
We would meet up on Saturday June 8th Bruce Byers home field CFB6 then depart the next morning. The trip can be customized to each participants needs. My intent is 16 days but could go longer with weather delays. At this time, I am the only one committed to flying, but possibly someone else will decide to join in. As time gets closer, I will post the entire route but, the plan would be to arrive in Fairbanks by June 11th, and that allows some time for weather delays. Further destinations in Alaska for me would be Barrow, Nome, and Anchorage.

Alaska List
Required for the Pilot

• 3rd class or better medical
• passport, 6 months, 2 blank pages (no passport cards)
• pilot's license must state English Proficient
• radio operator permit (just mail in a form/fee)
• Check your medical insurance for coverage.

Required for the Aircraft

• airworthiness certificate
• registration certificate (no temporary and in your name)
• updated W&B (matches tail number)
• radio station license.
• POH
• CBP decal
• check your insurance coverage (carry proof)
• Private Operation Declaration notarized letter if you are not aircraft owner
• nav/com
• Mode C
• ADS-B 1090ES, Right now ADS-B is not mandatory in Canada other than in Class A and Class B airspace. However, if you do have ADS-B capability, then on the ICAO Flt Plan in section 10b enter the applicable code B1 for ADS-B out, or B2 for ADSB In/Out needs to be input. Also in section 18 you need the following: SUR/CANMANDATE. See this link for more info:
• https://ops.group/blog/canada-ads-b-mandate-2/#:~:text=If you plan on entering, ADS-B In and Out
• The other Classes of airspace will become mandatory starting in 2026.
• 12 inch numbers
• nav database for IFR (no IFR planned for this trip)
• 406 ELT
• 12 inch numbers are not required in Canada if due to the age of the aircraft, the original aircraft numbers were the smaller version. For example, CF-MEX had the smaller registration numbers on the vertical stab. However, because C-Goen was imported from the USA, it had to have the newer 12 inch registration numbers put on the fuselage even though the original N-number was the small numbers on the vertical stab. I would suspect that if you have the small N-numbers on the vertical stab that due to the age of the aircraft, you don’t need to change them just because you are transiting through Canada.

Required for the Flight:

• Sectional maps for route of flight, Canada & Alaska
• Chart Supplements for Canada & Alaska (there are VFR procedures to fly to Anchorage that you need to know)
• APIS form filed on later than 1 hour prior to flight (the names of all passengers must match their identification, no exceptions, no substitutions) A real important one to remember is that eAPIS is only for the departure from and entry into the USA. Departure from the USA does not require a phone call, just the eAPIS. Entry into the USA does require the phone call as well as the eAPIS to US Customs.
• To land in Canada, you have to call Canada Customs (CBSA) prior to departing the USA to arrange for entry into Canada.

Telephone reporting for Private and Corporate Aircraft

The pilot must report the estimated time of arrival (ETA) by calling 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277) at least two hours, but no more than 48 hours before flying into Canada. Should the 1-888 service not be available, pilots must call the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 905-679-2073(Hamilton, Ontario). The caller may incur long distance charges.

The pilot must advise the TRC of the following:

• ETA
• Aircraft license/registration number
• Destination in Canada
• Full name, date of birth, citizenship and passport numbers for all persons on board
• Purpose of trip and length of stay in Canada for non-residents
• A declaration must be provided for each person aboard, either by the pilot or the individual
• Updates to the original ETA if changes are greater than 30 minutes or if any other previously provided information has changed.

All travelers aboard must declare any personal goods they are importing, including firearms and weapons, and report currency and monetary instruments of a value equal to or greater than CDN$10,000. If duties and/or taxes are payable, the TRC officer will also obtain a VISA or MasterCard number and expiration date from the individual concerned, along with the mailing address of the card holder.

Aircraft can land at an Airport of Entry (AOE) any time the site is open.

• If the aircraft has to land at a place not designated for customs reporting due to weather conditions or other circumstances, the pilot should call either 1-888-CANPASS or the nearest CBSA office or Royal Canadian Mounted Police office. Depending on the circumstances, the flight may be cleared over the phone, the pilot may be requested to await the arrival of a border services officer at that site, or the pilot may be requested to fly to the nearest AOE at the first opportunity.
• The last big one that I want to mention is firearms. Canada just passed a new prohibited firearms ban and handgun freeze legislation this past week. Unless it is a requirement in Alaska, do not bring firearms into Canada. Whatever you do, do not bring a firearm in the aircraft and not declare it! This would be very bad and could result in the aircraft being seized and the personnel on board being arrested. Now there are allowances for transit through Canada so long as the firearm is declared, and all the applicable paperwork is complete and filed. If it is not a requirement for Alaska, my advice is to leave any firearms at home.
• supplies: oil, fuel additives, lock, chocks, parts, tow bar, handheld, 406 PLB, looking into tracking for family members ("spot". etc.)
• flight plan with FSS .... flight following DOES NOT COUNT
• suitable survival equipment compliant with Canada & Alaska rules

Links for more information :

The AOPA has an excellent planning guide
https://www.aopa.org/travel/international-travel/alaska

This guy chronicles his trip and includes some very good information
https://backcountrypilot.org/knowle...-to-flying-to-alaska#h7-flying-through-canada

The Alaska DOT list some survival requirements:
https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdav/akfly.shtml

The FAA provides information on flights to Alaska:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...nits/systemops/fs/alaskan/alaska/fai/visitors

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Today I renewed my US CBP decal. The cost was $34.83. If you don't have an account, it is pretty painless to sign up. Here is a link: https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov

 

[a2324pilot]

Crossing the border into Canada is easier if you have a CANPASS. The form can be printed by using this link, https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/canpass-aircraft
The cost is $40 Canadian. The website states that it will take 4-6 weeks. I am mailing mine tomorrow.

 

[kamwings]

I just published a video about flying cross-border. Hopefully it's helpful for some folks planning to go.

 

[N6008L]

Thank you! I'm saving that. I've been told I'm scheduled for a flight to the Great White North this summer.

 

[a2324pilot]

Great post Kamal, Thanks! I will be putting that information into good use in June.

 

[a2324pilot]

It is 25 days until departure. If you have a passport and 3rd class medical there is still time to join in. A CBP sticker would be the first priority to get on order. Their website said 3 weeks, but mine came in two.

 

[bbyer]

I assume this is still on.

As such, I will be expecting one or more planes on Saturday June 8, 2024 at my home strip, (4600 ft x 100 ft) 2,069 ft ASL ATF 123.5, AUTO 122.35 Josephburg

CFB6 - Edmonton/Josephburg Airport | SkyVector

CFB6 is located near the town of Josephburg and of more consequence, Fort Saskatchewan. The Fort has hotels, and food services (real sit down restaurants and well as A&W and the like).

The aerodrome has 24/7/365 self serve fuel, (100LL and Jet A with pressure refueling for when Taylor Swift drops in or more likely, US Army Chinooks enroute Alaska, or from.) It seems some days we get more N number planes refueling than C number.

 

[a2324pilot]

Bruce, it looks like I will be the only airplane and I will be coming through your area on Sunday. But I also have to throw in a maybe. A week ago last Thursday my appendix ruptured. It was removed on the same day. I made the surgeon aware of my trip plans and so he scheduled me an appointment for June 7th and said he would give me a go/no go decision that day. He said he thought it would be probable that I could go, but he will give me decision on the 7th. So I won’t be getting to your area until the 9th.
I will let you know on the 7th.

 

[sparkie951]

Sorry to hear that.... Hope you feel better and will send prayers in your direction.

 

[bbyer]

One BAC airplane will double the number at CFB6 so one is good; also a medical concern at home sure beats one in the the air.

About the same time I did up post # 7 above, I also sent you what I guess is called a "message" - replaces PM I guess. My "message" has a few more details within related to our airstrip. I wondered if you had seen it?

The flying weather has been pretty good up here the last few days. For the most part, no smoke as there has been rain north of us - well the whole province and into the Territories so while there are still a number of individual forest fires, they are of a lesser nature than last year. No smoke in Eastern USA yet and the smoke in Montana and points south of 49 has also dissipated. Today was actually sunny and no wind so the 19A was up for a couple of hours today.

Other days, windy and low cloud but pipeline has been flying daily so that is always a positive. Mentioning pipeline brings to mind that for some reason, whenever one gets near CFB6 on approach, there seems to be a pipeline 172 below at 500 ft AGL. They are good with the radio (call themselves Pipeline) so keep an ear out for them and do not be shy about announcing yourself a few times on 123.5 that you are nearing Josephburg.

The jpg is from quite a few years back as there are more hangars now.

 

[wjknight]

Drove down from Cold Lake (CEN5) to meet and have lunch with Denis Weiser and his son Jim as they transited through Josephsburg, Alberta (CFB6) on their way to Alaska. Bruce Byer (Canada-West Regional Director) was a wonderful host, opening up his hanger and providing sandwiches and refreshments for the adventurous travelers. We swapped stories and advice on flying in Canada and Bruce showed off his A19 Sport. Then it was flight plan time and they left shortly after lunch bound for Fort Nelson (CYYE) and Watson Lake (CYQH), then on to Whitehorse (CYXY) and Alaska on Monday.
In the first picture are me, Denis Weiser, and Bruce Byer . In the second picture is Jim Weiser and his dad Denis.

 

[a2324pilot]

We made it to Fairbanks on Monday and Nome today. We are staying in a motel tonight, so my first chance to post some pictures. I will tell the story later. Great fun so far, with a few flying challenges thrown in to keep your anxiety level up, and the brain running.

the Custom III was on the ramp at Nome, so we parked next to it for a photo op.

 

[markweiss]

Just got this from Denis;

“We made it to Barrow yesterday. Great weather and scenery across the Brooks Range and the North Slope. We flew around Wiley Posts memorial at 500’ Agl. I am on a low data mode cell connection, so I will post more pictures later.”

 

[a2324pilot]

Tied down at Merrill Field in Anchorage tonight and staying in a motel with decent Wi-Fi. First, here are sure some pictures of the flight to Barrow. There was some amazing scenery of the Brooks Range and the North slope. We flew around Wiley Posts memorial and there is a picture of that as well.

 

[a2324pilot]

On the way back from Barrow we stopped at the Bettles Lodge for gas and supper.

 

[a2324pilot]

Back in Fairbanks at the AirPark

 

[a2324pilot]

Flew to Valdez yesterday. Flying through the valley, over Thompson Pass, then descending to Valdez was a tight fit. We had to make a loop out over the sound to descend to pattern altitude.

 

[a2324pilot]

Today we flew along the coast, turned north and flew over Anchorage, then by Denali.

 

[a2324pilot]

More pictures of Denali.

 

[a2324pilot]

Jim left on a commercial flight today to get back to work. Kathryn is coming tomorrow and we are going to ride the Alaskan Railroad. More flying pictures in a week when I take the trench route back to the lower 48.