Flying in the state of Alaska

[DHPFLYN]

Kind of a dumb question but always been curious. How is the weather in the winter? Aside from the cold and the snow. I am just curious is it always a bumpy ride with the mountains and crazy weather coming in off the coast? Or is it pretty much like anywhere else?

Thanks

 

[GuppyWN]

I'm an expert on winters in Alaska because I've seen every episode of Deadliest Catch.

It's cold and the wind blows like hell. Then there are days when it's dead calm and sunny.

Gup

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

Kind of a dumb question but always been curious. How is the weather in the winter? Aside from the cold and the snow. I am just curious is it always a bumpy ride with the mountains and crazy weather coming in off the coast? Or is it pretty much like anywhere else?

Thanks

I found the winters in the Midwest much tougher than that in Alaska. The Midwest isn't as cold, but there's a lot more precip and icing.

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

It depends on what part of Alaska your talking about. (It's the second largest state according to a texan) Southeast can be very wet, some snow, low vis and LOTS of wind! ANC and FAI, cold some snow with foggy days. The slope, better ask someone else. (No experience up there)

 

[Mookie]

It's like a box of chocolates...

Mookie

 

[tico]

For most of us, flying up here is fairly predictable....can be very nautical but the state takes runway maintenance to a new high....we fly to small towns that are plowed, broomed and urea applied...most runways have loc/gs or very good gps/rnp....the "chain" is still a show...never go west without an east alt....the main thing to remember is there is no competition for runways or airspace....not like ord and east where 500 other dudes want to go where the weather is good......once ya learn the few rules it is pretty simple....

 

[IBNAV8R]

It depends on what part of Alaska your talking about. (It's the second largest state according to a texan) Southeast can be very wet, some snow, low vis and LOTS of wind! ANC and FAI, cold some snow with foggy days. The slope, better ask someone else. (No experience up there)

I thought Texas was part of the panhandle.

 

[spitfire1500]

I land in ANC a lot...love it, they've got Darwins, Humpys, Koots, F Street and best of all The Gaslight!!

 

[Fubijaakr]

......once ya learn the few rules it is pretty simple....

Don't let the "Arctic Eagles" catch you saying stuff like that...

 

[HAL]

I didn't do much flying south of Fairbanks, but the northern half was pretty calm, and very very cold. There can be low clouds & snow, but very little 'stormy' weather. The summers in the interior are nice, if you can avoid the occasional thunderstorm. Spring and fall can be dicey, as you get a lot of icing in the precip. Once it gets cold enough, even that isn't much of a concern.

HAL