Sitka Spill!! (PV2)

This flight is somewhat different, this is an Emergency!, Sitka airport (PASI) has been closed, due to a massive toxic spillage from a KC 135 tanker on the runway.

This means, when you get to Sitka............You do NOT land on the runway!!

Solvents and a clean-up crew, have to be bought in.......fast!

The nearest solvents, are stored at Muddy Creek BC (BD7) The specialist clean-up crew are at Bronson Crk BC (CAB5) The plane for this flight, is the Mountain Air, Bae 146, its fast, with good STOL performance, it needs to transport a couple of tons of solvent, and 8 clean-up crew.

The 146 at Juneau, has had most of its seats ripped out, and is used for small cargo, and a MA pilots bus, one of these days, we may get a dedicated cargo 146, but till then, this will do nicely.

First Leg Juneau-Muddy Creek. PAJN-BD7 Alt-3149ft

We fly approx east for some 70 miles, approach is all important at this airport, the r/w is plenty long, at 5000ft, but its tucked away in mountains, actual r/w approach is 060d, so you'll be coming in from the SW, skimming the mountains, if you don't get “call-outs” to “Pull-up”.....then, your to high!! .......you can come in from a more southerly direction, following the river, hugging the left hand side of the canyon, then a slow turn on to 60d.........if by any chance you over run after touch down........you'll slam into a mighty cliff!!

Second Leg Muddy Crk-Bronson Creek. BD7-CAB5. Alt 442ft

Flying S Easterly for about another 100 miles, brings us to Bronson, should be approached from the N East, and follow the river (good canyon flyer, this plane)............the r/w is long, at 5000ft.

The actual approach, is to hug the right hand canyon wall, then a slow turn across the river to touchdown, the clean-up crew are ready, so we turn around, and straight out again

Third Leg Bronson Crk-Sitka. CAB5-PASI. Alt 19ft

Climb out of Bronson, follow the river to gain height, then turn near due west, for a 135 miles, enjoy a relaxing ride to Sitka

If you are unfamiliar with Sitka Airport, then its worth doing a couple of low circuits, before going for it.

As you can see in the picture below, the red line, marks your landing strip, on no account, let your wheels touch the black stuff!

The bottom of the picture shows the apron/taxiway, this is the N west favorite approach, get it right, and you'll stop at the end of the concrete taxiway, if you haven't stopped, and are still rolling, keep close to the runway, as on the left side is some wet ground, and FS will decide you've had a crash!

Coming in from the SE, don't touch down on the grass to early, its undulating, and wet, no real need to touch down, till your near halfway along the strip, in the 146 that is!

If another airplane is on the taxiway, as you approach, do another circuit, and he'll be gone (probably) or come in from the SE end

This landing was tested with the 146, and the MA 737 successfully, but of course, the 737 took a lot longer to stop!

Unload your cargo and clean-up crew, and thats it, you can now turn around, (slew, if no room) and take -off alongside the runway, for a hassle free trip, back to Juneau.

Total mileage of this trip, is about 400 miles, if everything goes well, about 1.5 hrs, but could be double that, if bad weather.......no real need to go higher than 13000ft, (its an Emergency!) thats high enough to stop you scratching your belly!

This route was designed for the MA 146, but if your not comfortable with it, any plane that can carry a couple of tons, and 8 passengers will do, that covers a lot of turbo props, if their your game!

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Email Barry at PAJNVenture@aol.com

last modified 04/20/04