Anchorage
the Last Frontier
Every
aviation enthusiast has a must-do bucket list, Oshkosh, Duxford etc if you
haven’t yet gone to Anchorage, PANC, its one to add to the list.
Anchorage is
not the easiest place to get to from Jersey unless you’re a long haul 747
freight pilot but start by taking a few days exploring Vancouver and the
Islands with Harbour Air, then fly from Vancouver taking the daily Air Canada
Airbus northwest to PANC.
The jewel in
Anchorage Ted Stevens International is the lake at its centre and the Lake
Hood Seaplane Base and airfield PALH.
Before heading
for the lake and leaving the international terminal to take some time to look
around to get the feel for Alaska aviation, stroll over to the Ravn Alaska
desk, it used to be Era Aviation made famous by the TV series Flying Wild
Alaska and run by Jim Tweto. They have a huge network serving remote Alaska
towns, you will see the locals checking in with all sorts of hold and hand
luggage. Before leaving there are two must do’s, have a haircut at the Bush
Pilot’s Barbershop in the terminal centre, and after that freshen up with the
Alaska standard, vanilla skinny latte and a chocolate doughnut.
The main international airfield is a busy airfield and has a mix hard to find elsewhere,
from the newest Boeing 747s operated by just about every long-haul freight
operator, dropping in for fuel and crew changes before continuing across the
pole, to the last of the working DC-6 and DC-3 aircraft still being operated
within Alaska for essential freight.
It is hard to
miss the amount of light aircraft traffic overflying the airfield from the growl of the Beaver to the familiar Lycoming of the Piper Cub. Most fitted with
floats and mixing in with all the other commercial aircraft. ATC seem to have a
“Can do” attitude, their regulations are there to make it work in their
environment. The majority of light aircraft overhead are approaching or
departing Lake Hood so make your way over to PALH, the Lake Hood aircraft museum
is a good start point as you will be advised on areas within walking range to
others that will need a car, you will also find organised tours around the
airfield.
For any
aircraft enthusiast the airfield is truly staggering in its size and mix of
every type of light aircraft. Whilst exploring you will be amazed at the number
of Piper Cubs every engine and type ever produced, and these are not pristine
showroom restored aircraft as you would see at Oshkosh, but every day working
aircraft. Driving around you need caution as the roads are also used as
aircraft taxiways, and be wary of the Moose, no not an aircraft but the huge
horse-sized animal, they roam all around Anchorage city and the airfields.
Moose gates are around that allow the Moose to escape but not enter, well
that’s the theory, but you will be given advise that in a conflict between a
car and a Moose, the Moose wins.
There are hundreds of aircraft on Lake Hood
and at every turn you come across hundreds more, floatplanes pushed up into
the grass verges to wheeled aircraft lined up on the aprons. Nothing is
polished all are clearly working aircraft but also well maintained, I believe
there are over 1500 based light aircraft at Lake Hood.
If staying
overnight in Anchorage stay at the Hilton in downtown. Anchorage is known as a
wild town but has a huge appeal if at the Hilton find the Cockpit Bar just
behind the hotel Its frequented by local pilots and transiting airline crews.
You will meet many pilots who love to talk aviation, I learnt about the
learning to fly course that includes actual landing on live highways, they
train for what may really happen and highways are the only clear spaces.
Alaskan
aviation is based on local safety needs, there is no bureaucratic intervention,
it is totally practical, it’s like Uk aviation back in the 50s.
If you have
the chance go, see for yourself before it inevitably changes.
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