Alaska

[fu69atacafyeah]

Im heading to Alaska and have never been. Are there any things to look out for? Except the terrain? Procedure-wise?


Thanks

 

[sf340flyer]

Possibly many things, can you give more details. Where are you going? What kind of airplane, and stuff like that......

 

[fu69atacafyeah]

Possibly many things, can you give more details. Where are you going? What kind of airplane, and stuff like that......

goin to juneau from the east coast in a 800xp...havent planned out my fuels stop(s) yet.

 

[BN2A]

First, I would study the LDA approach into JNU. You descend into some nasty terrain. If you go missed, you need to go around IMMEDIATELY but I might not go all the way to the 2 DME listed on the approach, unless you have a good bases report from the tower and you think you have a decent shot at breaking out (they are very good at passing info). They no longer have the NDB, and you wouldnt be able to shoot the RNAV due to category restrictions.

The minimums are very high into JNU and I would suggest PAGS Gustavus and PASI Sitka as alternates(favoring SIT as the alternate for facilities).

PM me and I can answer anything else you need. I flew IFR and VFR in SE AK about 8 years ago.

Hope that helps.

 

[Hamburger]

Juneau can be a ballbreaker. Do not take the IMMEDIATE turn in the go around from the LDA lightly. The VASI lines up with the approach, not the runway. Cross Mendenhall at 500' and make the dog-leg. If you feel the need to slide left to line up with the runway, don't do it until the Mendenhall Needle flips. The mins are high, NOT the place you want to take a peek lower. Worst case scenerio, run to the Level D VOR and asses your options. Sitka, Ketchekan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Yakutat.....Know what they are doing because the WX will change on you by the minute. Summer should be reasonable weather and you'll get some great sightseeing. Can't carry too much fuel, though.

 

[BN2A]

Hamburger is right. All good info.

 

[fu69atacafyeah]

Hamburger is right. All good info.

thanks guys...im going to take a look at everything this weekend more in depth and get back to you with any questions. i guess my best bet is to hope for good weather!

 

[thunderworm]

weather should be good this time of year. i have flown up there for the past 5 years. the lda isn't that bad. you can go to the missed point and easily make the turn. when you brake out the "cut" as it is called it at 600 feet. much lower and you will hit the trees as ace did years ago. you shouldn't be on instruments over the mendenhall ndb if you are then you went to far and you are sol . very pretty country. pajn is for the most part one way in one way out so if it is vfr cancell and don't clog up the airspace. don't be surprised to get clearled the approach a long ways out if there isn't anyone around. remeber that you then can decend to mea and start the approach from there. you definetly want to get down as soon as possible for you might be able to see the ground in one place but not the other at the same altitude. i have flown both turboprop and jets into there.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Don't tease the bears.

 

[Frozen Ronin]

Plenty of aircraft up here that don't have transponders. We won't show up on your TCAS. Many of us have the Capstone system, which is the next-gen of TCAS/TAWS. All GPS based. Anyway, just be aware that we're out here and won't be on your panel.

Cheers,
Ronin

 

[sf340flyer]

PAJN is a great place to fly into. The WX changes very fast. You might not want PAGS as an alternate as they don't have jet-a. PAYA can close in very fast as it is on the open coast. I wouldn't use PASG or PAWG as they don't have many services and can get ugly in and out (typically one way in and out). PAKT is always a safe bet with an ILS (just watch the g/s at 3.5 degrees. SIT is also pretty good, but I have shot an approach that ASOS was calling 10 and CLR, and we broke out at 500 MSL. Always plan on going to mins for every approach

Watch out for the little guys. most of the airspace is class G and Juneau is non radar below 20,000 or so. You can be a mins, break out and see guys flying into Juneau at 500 feet and getting a special VFR (after you have cancelled your IFR plan).

the famous cut, tune up Mendenhall and stay on the LOC until you see the needle swing, then a soft 20 degree bank left turn will get you wings level around 300 feet or so on final for 8. There is a VFR left downwind for 26, but I haven't done that. You might be landing and departing with a tailwind. Also if you do a VFR departure on 08 down the channel make sure you report to channel traffic on 123.05 (there will be several float planes and helicopters in the channel).

 

[thunderworm]

whatever you do do not turn left at mendenhal. that would put you into the terrain. im sure he ment right.

 

[Offwidth]

Yeah. Don't turn left at Mendenhall. Or dilly-dally on the missed! Enjoy your trip.

 

[fu69atacafyeah]

the trip went well, thanks for everyone's info...weather was marginal at best, but we made it in and out with no problems. I wish "we" (general aviation) could get our hands on and shoot those RNP approaches that Alaska Airlines does, those guys were in and out in all sorts of weather, fog, etc. Anyway I look forward to my next trip up there!

 

[cheater1239]

depending on the time of year, watch for extremely low altimeter settings

 

[NCherches]

My boss wants to head up there in a Citation as well... When does the weather start getting nasty up there? Soon probably??

 

[414Flyer]

Anytime of the year can be below mins, or low IFR, and it can happen quickly too. And when you do not expect it.

 

[fokkers&beer]

Like the previous posters said the weather can be bad up there anytime of the year. By bad I mean low ceilings, fog, and ice. October, early November you can run into fog untill the ground gets cold.
Its a beautiful place that can turn bad real fast. One year I was on frequency with 3 different aircraft that collided with terrain.