Mountain Air MAIL ROUTE 3A and 3B
(Juneau Cargo Hub flight numbers 9905 and 9906)
You guys have been doing such a great job flying the mail out of Valdez, we have been awarded a new route out of Gulkana, Alaska. Lots of stops, lots of fun, and lots of incredible scenery. 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!
I HIGHLY recommend using Eddie Denney's Alaska Mesh available at flightsim.com. The new FS2002 version of the mesh is stunning (it had better be for a 400+MB download!)
You may fly any aircraft you wish. For this route, I suggest the Piper Supercub, Beaver, 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! TIME is critical on this route. There is barely any daylight this time of year in Alaska. If you get behind, it will get DARK. Most stops are at UNLIT gravel strips. Tough in the day, really bad at night.
MAPS and Resources
Real World Alaska WAC chart for the flight area suitable for printing. (552kb)
Company preferred routing for this mail route flight (136kb)
Flight plan for the route in text form.
Mail Route 3 is supplied (mail and pilots) by Jet Feeder Route 1...check it out!
FEELING BRAVE? : Fly the mail route with MINIMUM Weather. Here is a FS2002 startup situation with MINIMUM VFR weather. FS2002! (4.2 kb) FS2002 Flight Plan included at no additional cost to you! I would highly recommend staying out of the clouds! Be careful of what you may find under the clouds too.
Addon scenery by Don Cote (MTN520) which adds hangars and towers to Mail Routes 1-6!
ROUTING - Route 3A (for route 3B, route is reversed)
THE ROLLING RIVER SECTION
Leg 1: GULKANA, AK (PAGK) to COPPER CENTER 2 (Z93)
COPPER CENTER 2 (Z93) Airport Elevation: 1150' / Runway length - 2200ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine start time - 12:00 PM / Arrival Time in Copper Center: 12:10 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 1700' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
This one is easy! Fly 150 deg or so...follow the HUGE river. Airport is on right side. Screenshot (26kb)
There is a nice displaced threshold here...no idea why. Screenshot (27kb)
Real World Picture of Copper Center 2 Airport. Nice, eh?
LEG 2: COPPER CENTER 2 (Z93) to CHITINA (CXC)
CHITINA (CXC) Airport Elevation: 556'' / Runway length - 2800ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 12:20 PM / Arrival Time in Chitina: 12:40 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 1500' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Hey! Chitina makes an encore appearance to the Mail Routes!
Just Keep following the giant Copper River SE. Airport is on a bluff, right side of River. Screenshot (24kb)
Bring it in tight and enjoy the view! Screenshot (27kb)
Real World Picture of Chitina, Alaska Airport. Sweet!
THE "HEY, NICE SCENERY" SECTION
LEG 3: CHITINA (CXC) to McCARTHY 2 (15Z)
McCARTHY 2 (15Z) Airport Elevation: 1531'' / Runway length - 3500ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 12:50PM / Arrival Time in McCarthy: 1:15PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 2000' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Continue to follow that beast of a Copper River SE.
The river will make a left bend to almost due east heading. Stay eastbound and leave the river!
You will be flying towards the spectacular Wrangell Mountains.
The Airport is at the base of the Kennicott Glacier...now it gets more interesting! Screenshot (30kb)
Final Approach is a piece of cake...nice scenery though. Screenshot (35kb)
Real World picture of McCarthy No. 2 Airport...why number 2? No idea!!
LEG 4: McCARTHY 2 (15Z) to MAY CREEK (MYK)
MAY CREEK (MYK) Airport Elevation: 1650'' / Runway length - 3300ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 1:25 PM / Arrival Time in May Creek : 1:35 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 2000' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
The Direct route will take you right over a spiffy mountain. "Finally some mountains", you holler!
The low weather route would be south...staying left following high terrain to the big flatlands.
Another easy one...enjoy the spectacular scenery.
The airport is out in the wooded flatlands. Finding it is the hardest part. Screenshot (26kb)
Real World Picture of May Creek Airport.
MOUNTAIN HOME SECTION
LEG 5: MAY CREEK (MYK) to GLACIER CREEK (KGZ)
GLACIER CREEK (KGZ) Airport Elevation: 2380'' / Runway length - 1700ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 1:40 PM / Arrival Time in Glacier Creek : 1:55 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 3500' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Now we hit the mountains...in this case, that may be a literal statement!!
Go north up the river valley...2nd valley on the right and you are there. Screenshot (31kb)
This is the most difficult airport on this route. Why? 1700ft long runway..no problem? Screenshot (30kb)
Now that you have seen the problem, just think how beautiful it will be on the ground. Screenshot (23kb)
Normal winds require a downhill landing...up the canyon to turn around onto final. Screenshot (30kb)
On short final, watch for the trees!!! Screenshot (25kb) Note: in FS2002, the trees are MUCH wider than they look!
This place is so far out in the sticks, there is no picture...barely any reference to it anywhere!
LEG 6: GLACIER CREEK (KGZ) to CHISANA (CZN)
CHISANA (CZN) Airport Elevation: 3318'' / Runway length - 1600ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 2:00 PM / Arrival Time in Chisana : 2:25 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 8500' / Visibility 2 miles
Helpful Hints:
If you make it in and out of Glacier Creek...head north up any valley you feel lucky with.
Pick your way through the mountains to a big valley with a river in it.
The airport is East of a major river. Screenshot (27kb)
Beautiful scenery around this flatland airport. Screenshot (29kb)
NOTE: This valley is almost always filled with Pea Soup fog. NO IFR!!! I mean it! Really!!
Chisana is not accessible by road - but still too backwoodsy for a real world picture :(
LEG 7: CHISANA (CZN) to DEVILS MOUNTAIN LODGE (IBN)
DEVILS MOUNTAIN LODGE (IBN) Airport Elevation: 2880'' / Runway length - 2000ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 2:30 PM / Arrival Time in Devils Mtn Lodge : 2:50 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 7500' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Another bunch of mountains to get through! Blast out of the valley and head West.
Pick your way through the mountains - following streams is a good plan.
The airport is West of a major river. Screenshot (27kb) In that shot, you will be coming out of the mountains in the picture.
By now, this will be an easy airport. Long, wide, pretty. Screenshot (26kb)
Real World Picture? Not!
THE OUTDOORSMAN SECTION
LEG 8: DEVILS MOUNTAIN LODGE (IBN) to SPORTS MANS PARADISE (9AK0)
SPORTS MANS PARADISE (9AK0) Airport Elevation: 3120'' / Runway length - 1000ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 2:55 PM / Arrival Time in Sports Mans Paradise : 3:00 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 3500' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Now we are in hunting and fishing territory. Quick hop from one lodge to the next.
Follow the valley west. Airport is at the end of a small lake. Screenshot (29kb)
This runway is a bit short, but no major obstacles.
Real World Picture? Can't find one! grrr.
LEG 9: SPORTS MANS PARADISE (9AK0) to DUFFYS TAVERN (DDT)
DUFFYS TAVERN (DDT) Airport Elevation: 2420'' / Runway length - 900ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 3:05 PM / Arrival Time at (not in please!) Duffys Tavern : 3:20 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 3000' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Enough Lodges...how about stopping in for a burger?
Continue west in valley...follow the highway to the airport. Screenshot (29kb)
This runway is short, so stay on your toes! Screenshot (32kb)
Real World Picture? Nope! You would think this place would want to advertise their private strip!
HOME STRETCH
LEG 10: DUFFYS TAVERN (DDT) to CHISTOCHINA (CZO)
CHISTOCHINA (CZO) Airport Elevation: 1850'' / Runway length - 2000ft / Surface: Gravel
Engine Start Time - 3:30 PM / Arrival Time in Chistochina: 3:45 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 3000' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
Wipe the mustard off your chin and head out southwest.
Follow the highway to the airport...they are neighbors. Screenshot (32kb)
This is the first airport with lights...good thing, it is always almost dark up here! Screenshot (22kb)
Real World Picture? YES! Finally!!
LEG 11: CHISTOCHINA (CZO) to GULKANA (PAGK)
GULKANA (PAGK) Airport Elevation: 1579'' / Runway length - 5000ft / Surface: Asphalt
Engine Start Time - 3:50 PM / Arrival Time in Gulkana : 4:10 PM
MINIMUM WEATHER: Ceiling 2200' / Visibility 1 mile
Helpful Hints:
The flatlands welcome you back for the final leg. Is your butt sore yet? Mine is!
Follow the nice little river valley, enjoy the lush forest. You can't miss the airport. Screenshot (28kb)
Big and paved, your base beckons you home. Screenshot (24kb)
Real World Picture? But of course! Another shot to make up for the ones earlier with nothing!
One More for good measure. Welcome home aviator.
FINAL STATISTICS
ROUTE 3A and 3B:
TOTAL FLIGHT TIME: 3 hours
TOTAL TIME OUT OF BASE: 4 hours 10 minutes
TOTAL LEGS: 11!
OTHER RESOURCES
"John, I think your screenshots suck. How about a real picture of Gulkana?", you say. LIVE GULKANA WEBCAM!
Have a day off in Gulkana? Why not enjoy the Gulkana River?
Your airplane is broken down in Copper Center? The company will put you up here.
This flight goes around the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. It's as big as Switzerland!!
Pictures from McCarthy Alaska...man, it looks nice! More pictures!
They don't fly mail, but we still consider Wrangell Mountain Air the enemy. Heck, they stole our name!
Info on the Copper River Valley including Nebesna (Devils Mtn Lodge / Sportsmans paradise), Slana (duffys tavern), and Chistochina.
"I flew all 11 legs and boy is my butt sore.", you groan. Check this out! teehee
The End
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last modified 3/1/08
