Mountain Air MAIL ROUTE 2A and 2B
(Juneau Cargo Hub flight numbers 9903 and 9904)
So, you flew route 1 and thought it was a piece of cake? Great, here is our latest mail contract route. This route also begins in Valdez, Alaska, but it goes West towards Anchorage. As always, A few notes to keep you honest:
Remember...VFR ONLY! Do NOT fly in the clouds. If you do, we will lose our contracts and be fined.
Check minimum weather requirements for each leg. Do not take off into below minimum weather!
FS2000 users : We suggest using Eddie Denney's Alaska Mesh available at flightsim.com
You may fly any aircraft you wish. For this route, I suggest the Pilatus Porter (PC-6), Piper Supercub, or other suitable bushplane. Please check runway lengths and conditions when selecting your aircraft.
Fly the same plane for the route - we cannot afford to leave spare planes sitting around for you to fly.
Don't forget to unload the mail when you get there!!
Try to be on time! We get bonus money for on time flying. Be sure to check the route time table below for scheduled times.
MAPS and Resources
Real World Alaska WAC chart for the flight area suitable for printing. (488kb)
Company preferred routing for this mail route flight (136kb)
Flight plan for the route in text form.
The Pilatus Porter (fs2000 version - works great in fs2k2) can be found at Avsim.com
Here is a FS2002 Flightplan for the flight. Not like you will be flying direct anywhere on this flight though!
FEELING BRAVE? : Fly the mail route with MINIMUM Weather. Here is a FS2002 startup situation with MINIMUM VFR weather. FS2002! (5.7 kb) Be sure to change from the 182 to a bush plane before flight! This weather is a challenge - you will not be able to fly direct anywhere, nor follow the company routing. I would highly recommend staying out of the clouds! Be careful of what you may find under the clouds too. Screenshot ( 33kb)
Add On Scenery for Mail Route 2 by Dave Kester, MTN686. Adds mail facilities and much more to stops on Mail Route 2! Thanks Dave. (ZIP FILE - 1.83MB)
ROUTING - Route 2A (for route 2B, route is reversed)
Leg 1: VALDEZ, AK (PAVD) to SHEEP MOUNTAIN (PASP)
SHEEP MOUNTAIN (PASP) Airport Elevation: 2750' / Runway length - 2300ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine start time - 12:10 PM / Arrival Time in Sheep Mountain: 1:00 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: For glacier route: Ceiling 8000' / Visibility 3 miles
Helpful Hints:
Go west out of Valdez. Turn right at second inlet on right side of water inlet. Follow glacier north. Screenshot (25kb)
There will be some very high ground along the glacier. Screenshot (23kb)
Follow Glacier North until you see a long, narrow lake. Stay to left side of lake.
Follow terrain on left side of lake until heading west. Continue for 10 miles. Look for Apt on right side of mountain! Screenshot (23kb)
Real World Picture of Sheep Mountain Airport
LEG 2: SHEEP MOUNTAIN (PASP) to JONESVILLE MINE (PAJV)
JONESVILLE MINE (PAJV) Airport Elevation: 870'' / Runway length - 1400ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 1:10 PM / Arrival Time in Jonesville Mine: 1:30 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 3000' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Takeoff (Screenshot 27kb) - and head west. Follow the very large valley westbound.
After the 5th river inlet on the right, watch for airport.
Airport is on the right side of valley, alongside a lake. Screenshot (40kb) Screenshot2 (22kb)
Real World Picture of Jonesville Mine Airport is Unavailable - it is too small!
Virtual Airport picture from the ground (28kb)
LEG 3: JONESVILLE MINE (PAJV) to BOLD, ALASKA (A13)
BOLD, ALASKA (A13) Airport Elevation: 900'' / Runway length - 1000ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 1:40PM / Arrival Time in BOLD: 1:50PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 1500' / Visibility 1 miles
Helpful Hints:
Heading of 180 out of Jonesville mine to start.
You will fly over a large airport...this is Palmer, AK. Large paved runways? Fly right on by!
You will cross a major river...look for some lighted towers and a small river valley to the left. Turn up that valley. Screenshot (22kb)
Follow river valley until you find a lake...then follow the lake east.
Airport is at the far east end of lake on the LEFT side. It is small and hard to spot. Screenshot (25kb)
There are hills blocking the approaches to this runway. This is the hardest stop on the route! Screenshot (23kb)
Real World Picture of BOLD airport is not available. If Jonesville Mine was too small, this one is WAY too small!
LEG 4: BOLD (A13) to GIRDWOOD (AQY)
GIRDWOOD (AQY) Airport Elevation: 150'' / Runway length - 2100ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 2:00 PM / Arrival Time in Girdwood : 2:15 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 5000' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
The Direct route to Girdwood provides for a challenging departure! Screenshot (26kb) / Screenshot 2 (32kb)
There will be a series of mountain passes to clear southbound enroute to Girdwood.
Very often, Girdwood is shrouded in low clouds. If this is the case, you are screwed! No IFR AUTHORIZED!
The runway is not a big challenge, if you can find it. Screenshot (23kb) / Screenshot 2 bad wx (26kb)
Real World Picture of Girdwood Airport.
LEG 5: GIRDWOOD (AQY) to WHITTIER (PAWR)
WHITTIER (PAWR) Airport Elevation: 30'' / Runway length - 1500ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 2:25 PM / Arrival Time in Whittier : 2:40 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 3500' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Fly south out of Girdwood, turn left at large body of water.
Follow large inlet east until you hit large mountains...well, don't actually HIT them!
On other side of mountains, on a tiny stretch of land, is Whittier Airport. Screenshot (36kb)
Real World Picture of Whittier Airport. Impressive, eh?
LEG 6: WHITTIER (PAWR) to VALDEZ (PAVD)
VALDEZ (PAVD) Airport Elevation: 120'' / Runway length - 6500ft / Surface: Asphalt
Engine Start Time - 2:50 PM / Arrival Time in Valdez : 3:35 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 500' / Visibility 3 miles
Helpful Hints:
You can follow the water all the way to Valdez.
There are 2-3 inlets before the main Valdez Arm inlet. In minimum Weather, be careful not to get into dead end inlets.
Airport is big and easy, nice finish. Screenshot (31kb)
Real World Picture of Valdez Airport. Different than the picture on route 1 page, I promise.
FINAL STATISTICS
ROUTE 2A:
TOTAL FLIGHT TIME: 2 hours 35 minutes
TOTAL TIME OUT OF BASE: 3 hours 35 minutes
ROUTE 2B:
TOTAL FLIGHT TIME: 2 hours 50 minutes
TOTAL TIME OUT OF BASE: 3 hours 40 minutes
OTHER RESOURCES
What to do in Sheep Mountain? How about Sheep Viewing?
"Hey John, I have 10 minutes to kill in Jonesville Mine, why not mine some Coal?", you say. Here is why!
Bold, Alaska sounds too cool, doesn't it? Why no webpages? That pisses me off!
Now, Girdwood, there is place with some action! Skiing? Other fun? Heck, you have 10 minutes to burn!
Did you know Whittier was used as a base during WWII? Want to know more about Whittier?
The End
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last modified 3/1/08
