Mountain Air CARGO ROUTE 3A and 3B
(Juneau Cargo Hub flight numbers 9984 and 9985)
Southern Alaska has been a fertile ground for our hub to make money, build a reputation, and make the other Mountain Air hubs look like amateurs. Well, now we are expanding north. Remote places in the real backwoods - or back-tundra in some cases - need cargo as well. Cargo Route 3 has been developed to serve this need. A nice route between Northway and Nome crosses the whole state right down the middle. Huge mountains? nope, just 5000ft hills. Where is the challenge? Short runways, bad weather, early darkness, and larger planes on short runways will make your day challenging.
Cargo Route 3 is to be flown with medium sized prop twins or larger. Small turbine twins (B1900, C441, Kingair) or large prop planes (DC3, DC-6). The more cargo we can carry, the more money we make. Don't take a plane bigger than your abilities though - wrecked planes cut into the bottom line! This route has been tested with planes up to the size of the 737 (Landing is hard in the 737, takeoffs are really almost impossible)
All airports serviced are available in stock FS2004 scenery...no guarantees for FS2002 or before. I recomend Raimundo Tabaret's 38m AK mesh scenery...1.2Gb download freeware if you have the bandwidth!
Use Real World Weather, either via the flightsim program or an addon program (activesky, fsmeteo, etc) - Be aware of valley fog, gusty winds, icing, and basic JY sporty weather. The whole time testing this in Feb '05 the weather sucked every day.
Have fun and enjoy the challenge! Depending on the weather and time of day, it can be a major challenge. In the winter you cannot make the route all in daylight. Try setting your date to Dec 21st and see how it goes.
Arrival Times are not as important on cargo routes. Fly whenever you get a plane full of stuff.
IFR flight is allowed on the cargo routes; however, 90% of the airports served DO NOT have an instrument approach. Plan accordingly and DO NOT get caught on top in bad weather. Be aware of high terrain and narrow valleys making IFR operations foolish. No FAA inspectors out here, so do what you can, just DON'T wreck my planes :)
| Easy | Intermediate | Advanced | Nutcase |
| Any Single Engine, Twin Otter | Beech Baron, Cessna 421, Cessna 441, etc | Beech 1900, DC3, Kingair, etc | 737, EMB120, A380, etc |
MAPS and Resources
Sectional Charts of the route. 3 Maps showing the stops. Navigation between stops and between map sections is up to you ;)
| Anchorage Area (Northway, Boundary, and Chicken airports) | Fairbanks Area (Chena, Crevice Creek, Quail Creek, Kobuk Apts) | Nome Area (Bear Creek, Independence Creek, Nome Apts) |
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| 536KB JPG | 1.1MB JPG - this one covers lots of land | 650KB JPG |
Flight Plans for those who don't want to just wing it:
THE ROUTE
LEGS IN DETAIL
Northway (PAOR) to Boundary (BDY)
Boundary Airport Elevation: 2940' / Runway length - 2500ft / Surface: Gravel
Northway Airport Elevation: 1716' / Runway length - 3300ft / Surface: Asphalt
Check out a picture of the Real Airport!
| Northway | Northway | Boundary from South | Boundary from North |
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Helpful Hints:
Northway is an easy paved airport. If you can't takeoff or land here you need to transfer to Denver.
Boundary airport is up near the top of a hill. Good way to start off. Easy missed approach.
Boundary has a taxiway at the end of the runway...makes an elbow. The taxiway is not for landing.
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Boundary (BDY) to Chicken (CKX)
Boundary Airport Elevation: 2940' / Runway length - 2500ft / Surface: Gravel
Chicken Airport Elevation: 1640' / Runway length - 2400ft / Surface: Gravel
Check out a picture of the Real Airport!
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Chicken |
Chicken |
Chicken |
Boundary |
Boundary |
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Helpful Hints:
Departure and arrival in Boundary are pretty easy by PAJN standards.
Chicken is an oddity on this route...the runway is lit making it almost too easy in twilight or darkness.
Beware of mosquitos in Chicken. They can be big enough to take the plane down.
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Chicken (CKX) to Chena Hot Springs (AK13)
Chicken Airport Elevation: 1640' / Runway length - 2400ft / Surface: Gravel
Chena Hot Spgs Airport Elevation: 1195' / Runway length - 3500ft / Surface: Gravel
Check out a picture of the Real Airport!
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Chena |
Chena |
Chicken |
Chicken |
Chicken |
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Helpful Hints:
Beware of high terrain nearby the Chicken airport, especially at night. Runway is oriented across a valley.
Chena Hot Springs airport is located in a tight valley with high terrain all around.
During testing, the weather at Chena was almost always foggy making for sporty conditions. See screenshots below for example.
Departures from Chena will require careful piloting and maximum performance despite the long runway.
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Chena Hot Springs (AK13) to Quail Creek (20K)
Chena Hot Spgs Airport Elevation: 1195' / Runway length - 3500ft / Surface: Gravel
Quail Creek Airport Elevation: 1550' / Runway length - 1700ft / Surface: Gravel
Helpful Hints:
If you are low on gas, you will be flying right by Fairbanks, AK on this leg. Stop and get some gas.
The majority of this leg is over flatlands, so relax and enjoy the scenery.
Quail Creek is the first stop with a shorter runway, so be sure to un-relax before arrival.
Quail Creek's runway is a bit narrow.
Quail Creek is a one way strip...not telling you which way though. Let's just say it is in a hole. Good Luck.
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Quail Creek (20K) to Crevice Creek (1AK1)
Quail Creek Airport Elevation: 1550' / Runway length - 1700ft / Surface: Gravel
Crevice Creek Airport Elevation: 840' / Runway length - 2200ft / Surface: Gravel
Helpful Hints:
Departure from Quail Creek is pretty much one way no matter the winds. You can make it uphill if you are right on and have a good performing plane.
Crevice Creek is located next to a river, or creek if you will. Arrivals and departures are easier from one side, but with practice you can land both ways.
You will fly right over Bettles, AK on this leg, so if you need fuel, please stop now.
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Crevice Creek (1AK1) to Kobuk (OBU)
Crevice Creek Airport Elevation: 840' / Runway length - 2200ft / Surface: Gravel
Kobuk Airport Elevation: 145' / Runway length - 2500ft / Surface: Gravel
Check out a picture of the Real Airport!
| Kobuk | Kobuk | Kobuk |
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Helpful Hints:
Departure from Crevice Creek is too easy to talk about. Takeoff towards the river.
Kobuk - find the airport! That is the challenge. Kobuk is right near 2 other airports. Don't screw up and land at Dahl Creek or Shungnak. Dahl Creek will be a stop on Jet Route 4 so you will get your chance.
Kobuk is in the flatlands. Nothing to hit but river on final so grease it on and make JY proud.
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Kobuk (OBU) to Bear Creek 1 (AK02)
Kobuk Airport Elevation: 145' / Runway length - 2500ft / Surface: Gravel
Bear Creek Airport Elevation: 575' / Runway length - 1400ft / Surface: Gravel
Helpful Hints:
Kobuk is easy. If you haven't been there yet, something to look forward to.
Bear Creek is not easy. How about that? Bear Creek has the shortest strip of the route at 1400 ft.
Not only is the runway short, but it is down in a valley making the approach challenging.
Depending on the plane, you need to get it down and stopped NOW to survive here. This is where you earn your money!
Bear Creek 1 (AK02) to Independence Creek (2AK9)
Bear Creek Airport Elevation: 575' / Runway length - 1400ft / Surface: Gravel
Ind. Creek Airport Elevation: 250' / Runway length - 1800ft / Surface: Gravel
Helpful Hints:
Have you been to Bear Creek? Did you survive the landing? Did you manage to takeoff again? Can be fun there.
Independence Creek is mildly sporty too. The runway is tucked into a hole making the approach one way.
The arrival path is fairly flat though, so you can get some big iron in if you try. I made it in a 737, see screens below.
Ind. Creek departures are one way and easy.
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Independence Creek (2AK9) to Nome (PAOM)
Ind. Creek Airport Elevation: 250' / Runway length - 1800ft / Surface: Gravel
Nome Airport Elevation: 27' / Runway length - 6000ft / Surface: Asphalt
Check out a picture of the Real Airport!
Helpful Hints:
Stay Sharp...look out! What is that? Oh, it is a 6000ft long paved runway with lights. Scary, eh? I think you can handle it.
THE END
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last modified 3/1/08
