Route Two: Flying the Coastal Route
from Western US
- The coastal route is the only route to Alaska that bypasses
a landing in Canada. This may be a
benefit for pilots or passengers with immigration issues getting back into
the US from Canada, in which case one would fly at least 600 nm non-stop
from the Seattle area to Ketchikan,
Alaska (the southern-most public airport in Alaska). Pilots considering this route for
immigration reasons should be aware that this direction of flight
typically has a headwind, and that IFR conditions can frequently arise at
Ketchikan, due to the coastal fog and rainforest conditions which often
exist in that part of the state.
The closest reasonable alternate airports might well be Prince
Rupert, in Canada, which could create legal complications if the pilot is
unable to land at Ketchikan due to poor weather.
- Important note to all pilots considering the coastal
route: before embarking on this
trip, carefully review the weather forecast and the approach plates for Ketchikan (Alaska) and Prince Rupert (British
Columbia), and be very comfortable with your IFR skills in handling the
minimums and the missed approach procedures. ATC cannot provide any radar coverage for either the enroute
or approach segments (since there are no radar facilities), so you’re
entirely on your own. Even
experienced pilots would say that flying an instrument approach into
airports like Ketchikan, Sitka
and Juneau can be as hard core IFR as it
gets. As noted above, IFR
conditions can often be the rule, rather than the exception, at these
coastal airports.
·
On the other hand, when VFR conditions exist, flying
this route along the coastline of British Columbia and southern Alaska offers
magnificent views of mountains, forests, inlets and the ocean.
·
The first leg
of the coastal route is from the Seattle area to Ketchikan (PAKT), a
distance of 603 nm. Significant
mountainous terrain exists along this route, so the recommended IFR route with
the highest MEA of 9,600 feet would be along the Victor airways: V495 to
Victoria VOR (YYJ), V440 to Comox VOR (UQQ) and Port Hardy VOR (YZT), V347 to
Bella Bella VOR (YJQ), A10 to Prince Rupert (CYPR for the airport or PR for the
NDB), V309 to Annette Island VOR (ANN) and then to Ketchikan airport
(PAKT).
- The second
leg of the coastal route would be along the Prince William Sound
to Valdez (followed by a short trip to Anchorage Merrill Field or to
Kenai, Soldotna, Homer or Seward on the Kenai Peninsula), a distance of
approximately 620 nm. Significant
mountainous terrain exists just inland from the coast, so the recommended IFR
route with the highest MEA of 10,000 feet would be along the Victor
airways: DWARF intersection to
pick up V311 to Biorka Island VOR (BKA), V440 to Yakutat VOR (YAK), V319
to Johnstone Point VOR (JOH), and then V481 to Valdez airport (PAVD). Interesting places to visit or refuel
along the way in Alaska include Sitka (PASI), Juneau (PAJN), and Yakutat
(PAYA). The port town of Valdez is
the southern terminus of the Trans
Alaska Pipeline.
- The scenery and terrain on the Alaska portion of the
coastal route is quite spectacular, with incomparable views of glaciers,
mountains and the ocean especially from Yakutat to Seward. If flown when VFR conditions exist, the
MEAs would not be relevant and the pilot could simply track the coastline
at a suitable VFR altitude. Stop
at McCarthy (PAMX) if you wish to visit Mt. St. Elias National Park
by ground.
- If flying IFR, use the NACO L-1 enroute chart. If flying VFR, use the following
Canadian sectional charts:
Vancouver, Kitmat and Atlin, as well as the following NOAA sectional
charts: Ketchikan, Juneau and
Anchorage.
- Listed below are directory information, diagrams and
instrument approach procedures for each of the airports mentioned in Route
Two (or, in the case of a navigation aid, the associated airport). This information was obtained from
either AOPA or NavCanada, is copyrighted, has an expiration date of
mid-2004, and is presented for informational purposes only.
Anchorage Merrill Field (PAMR)
Bella Bella (CYJQ)
Homer (PAHO)
Juneau (PAJN)
Kenai (PAEN)
Ketchikan (PAKT)
McCarthy (PAMX)
Port Hardy (CYZT)
Prince Rupert (CYPR
Seward (PAWD)
Sitka (PASI)
Soldotna (PASX)
Valdez (PAVD)
Victoria (CYYJ)
Yakutat (PAYA)