DanS Wrote:
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> Even more to Juneau, and then the marine highway
> system to Skagway, or a small plane from Juneau to
> Skagway.
>
> The ferry (marine highway) would be my choice
> though. Flying in Southeast Alaska isn’t for
> the faint of heart. No problem getting into
> Juneau if you are on Alaska, more iffy on Delta.
> But the 135 operator from Juneau to Skagway can be
> pretty crazy unless the weather is spectacular.
> If it’s perfectly clear, then do that though.
>
> Source: flew there for a long time.
>
> Dan
When I visited back in April of 2011 for the last rotary run, I considered flying on Wings of Alaska, from Juneau to Skagway, but after looking into it, I discounted the idea. I flew into Whitehorse and rented a car.
Skagway is a VFR-only (Visual Flight Rules) airport....no instrument approaches. Once you visit the place, it becomes obvious as to why. There is precipitous terrain nearly surrounding the airport and in very close proximity. I called the operator to ask what their weather minimums were and the gentleman I spoke with said 500-1.....that's a 500 ft. ceiling and a mile visibility. As a commercial/instrument pilot myself for more than 35 years, I consider 500-1 to be relatively low IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), generally requiring a precision approach to the runway. The idea of scud-running VFR, single-pilot, roughly 100 miles in a Cessna 208 from Juneau into a place like Skagway in 500-1 conditions with a load of paying passengers on board struck me as just nutty. You hear about aviation accidents in Alaska relatively frequently, and it's not at all surprising. Folks in Alaska regularly do stuff with airplanes that would get them cited by FAA for careless & reckless operation back in the lower 48. It's a different world up there.
/Kevin Madore
