DISPATCHER'S | C A M B R I A ... I C E F I E L D...R E S E A R C H...P R O J E C T |
|
|
| RIBBON |
B R I E F I N G |
Start Stewart BC Operations Center (Parking Area) |
This flight encompasses all 10 ice stations. The flight plan is "autopilot friendly" so you can use the autopilot for turns. NOTAM: But YOU must control the altitude that is given below in red italics on each leg. The "heading and distance" for the leg depicted in the Dispatcher's Ribbon to the left shows "direct" ... not necessarily the directions the flight plan follows. The flight plan will line you up on a runway, it will be your decision to land, do a touch and go, or continue flying. You can also click on "see chart" to see the layout of the ice station. |
Leg 1 Stewart to Summit Ice Station |
Set your ADF to 248 for Summit Station. We start at the Operations Center at Stewart BC. We will fly on a heading of 185 (south) for about 3 miles. You will see the community of Hyder Alaska come up to starboard. You will see the Salmon River Basin to port, we will be turning to fly up this basin to the Salmon Glacier on a heading of about 311. Follow the river basin until you see a ridge ahead with a glacier beyond. Fly to the glacier, safe altitude at the ridge is 1500 feet. You are approaching Salmon Glacier. Begin climbing to 3000 feet. Summit Ice Station is on the summit of this glacier. Follow the curve of the glacier keeping the mountains to starboard about a mile distant. As you follow the glacier maintain 3000 feet until you see the runway ahead. The runway is approximately the heading you are on. (see chart). Land or continue to Leg 2. |
Leg 2 Summit Ice Station to Through Glacier Research Center |
We leave Summit Ice Station on a heading of 337. The glacier slopes downward to Summit Lake. The tour float planes land at the docking station there at the edge of the lake. Continue to fly over Summit Lake. Safe Altitude 3200 feet. A glacier will come in from port, fly straight and you can land or fly over Granduc Mining camp. There is an interesting "memorial" here for 26 workers that died. Leave Granduc on a heading of 319 for 4 miles. Follow the Granduc river until you see the Frank Mackie glacier coming in from port. We will be turning to fly up the center of that glacier on a rough heading of 230 for 5.2 miles. Climb to a safe altitude of 4300 feet. You will pass over the Frank Mackie Research Outpost, here, turn to port to 150 and follow the Frank Mackie Glacier to its summit. Safe altitude 6400 feet. Watch for the glacier instrument repair team on the right side of the glacier. Continue flying to the summit. After the summit, you can lower your altitude to 5500 feet. Two small glaciers will be coming in from Starboard (John Jay Mountain Area). Let them pass to starboard and follow the glacier ahead as it goes down into a valley, maintain 5000 feet as we will be flying to the glacier table you see about 6 miles ahead. When the glacier you are following turns sharply to starboard, we will be flying straight ahead to the narrow glacier you see ahead, Through Glacier. The glacier curves to port, follow it's curve. (Set your ADF to 249 for Through Station). Watch for the glacier to open up to port, fly to the port side of the wide expanse, Through Research Center is at the far end of this expanse. (See Chart). The flight plan lines you up for the runway. The runway altitude is 4400 feet. |
Leg 3 Through Glacier to Mt McLeod Ice Station |
If you landed at through, give yourself plenty of runway to take off to the north (360) and climb quickly to 5700 feet turning sharply to starboard to 103, coming around the mountain to starboard. Watch for the Through Radar Station on top of the mountain. Continue to turn to starboard around the mountain coming to a heading of 108. Fly over the second ridge ahead and you will see a steep valley. On a clear day, you may fly down to 1500 feet into the valley. The valley turns to starboard, follow it to a heading of 180 then ahead you can see the beginnings of No Name lake. You can reduce your altitude to 1000 feet over the lake. At the far end of the lake is the R&R (Rest and Recreation) Lodge. If you fly to the starboard side of the lake, you will be lined up for a short dirt runway if you care to land. Otherwise, maintain safe altitude 1200 feet, and continue flying over R&R Lodge on a heading of about 160. You will see two small lakes under the port wing, and a mile beyond them is "Half Way" cabin. Follow the valley to port. The valley comes to a heading of 112. Fly low over the ridge near the water ahead (The Portland Canal). Just as you clear the ridge look down and you will see Soule Landing. If your aircraft is so equipped, you can do a water landing here (helipad available also). If you do not land, then over Soule Landing then turn to port to fly up the center of the Portland Canal. Set your ADF to 240 for Mt. McLeod Ice Station's NDB. In 6 miles, you will see the Marmot River Basin to port. When you see the Marmot River, begin climbing to 5000 feet. Fly into that river basin on a heading of 104. When you see the Marmot River, begin climbing to 5000 feet. In 2 miles, be ready for a sharp turn to port. Follow the valley there, continuing to climb steeply and follow the valley. You will come to the glacier ... continue climbing. Near the top of the glacier, watch out for helicopter activity, they are working in this area. Once on top of the glacier, look at 1:00 and you will see the Mt McLeod Ice Station 2 miles away. The gps will guide you to the 11/29 runway heading. (See Chart). You can land or continue to Leg 4. |
Leg 4 Mt McLeod Ice Station to Kitsault Peak Ice Station |
You leave Mt McLeod Ice Station on a heading of 112. Set your ADF to a frequency of 244 for Kitsault Peak Ice Station's NDB. If you are flying direct, the minimum safe altitude is 6000 feet. However, you can easily go around the bluff going to port (bluff passing on starboard). If you are following this procedure, the minimum safe altitude is 5200 feet. The runway there is on an 11/29 heading, so continuing straight, you will arrive in the correct heading configuration for landing on Rwy 11 at Kitsault Peak. (See Chart). You can land, do a touch and go, or go on to Leg 5. |
Leg 5 Kitsault Peak Ice Station to Cambria East Ice Station |
Set your ADF for 242 for Cambria East Ice Station's NDB. We leave Kitsault on a heading of 104. We will be making a slow 90 degree turn to port to approach Cambria east Ice Station on the correct runway heading of 32/41. Our approach is for 32. (See Chart) Fly to 5400 feet, you will be near landing altitude when you approach Cambria. |
Leg 6 Cambria East Ice Station to Bromley Peak Ice Station |
This is a short "S" shaped (6 nm) flight leaving Kitsault Peak on a heading of 276 and following the flight plan. Your ADF should be tuned to 243 for Bromley Peak Ice Station's NDB. Safe minimum altitude on this leg is 6200 feet. The Rwy Heading is 31/13, we will be landing on 31 (See Chart). |
Leg 7 Bromley Peak Ice Station to Otter Mountain Ice Station |
Set your ADF to 241 for the NDB at Otter Mountain Ice Station. Take off from Bromley Peak Ice Station on a 309 heading. Watch for the work crews out on the ice below and "waggle" your wings at them to say "hello." Ahead the glacier slopes down, but to starboard, the glacier rises .. follow the glacier to starboard on an approximate heading of 350. On this course, you will approach a set of mountains to port and fly close to them. You will then turn to the runway heading of 03/21. Turn to 030 to line up on the runway at Otter Mountain. (See Chart) If you are not landing, get ready for a very sharp turn to port and increase your altitude to 6800 feet. |
Leg 8 Otter Mountain Ice Station to Erickson Ice Station |
Set your ADF for 247 for Erickson Ice Station's NDB. This is a dangerous leg and should only be done in good weather. Taking off from Otter Mountain, you will make an immediate and sharp turn to port coming to 260 while climbing to 6800 feet. You then follow the glacier ahead. The glacier slopes downward creating a valley and you fly over that valley on a heading of 010. As you approach the river below, come to a heading of 340. Watch for a low sharp peak about 1:00 to starboard. You will be flying on a heading of approximately 010 with that peak passing to starboard. You should clear the ridge there at about 6800 feet. Set your flaps and ease down to the runway. This runway heading is 34 and it is at 6200 feet in altitude. (See Chart). You can land or execute a touch and go and continue flying to Leg 9. Look around you on the mountain tops in this area for some very creative helipads and objects. |
Leg 9 Erickson Ice Station to Mt Pattullo Ice Station |
Set your ADF to 246 for the NDB at Mt Pattullo. Take off from Otter Mountain on a heading of 340. Begin climbing to 7500 feet. You will fly to a glacier that becomes distinct, curves to the left and slopes down. You will go straight there crossing the ridge at no less than 7500 feet. Mt Pattullo will come in sight over the ridge, be in landing configuration. The runway is 31/13 ... we will be landing on 31. (See Chart). As you come to the peak, watch for a cabin on the ridge to port and a helipad further up the mountain. Land, make a touch and go, or continue on to Leg 10. |
Leg 10 Mt Pattullo Ice Station to Mt. Johnson Ice Station. |
Set your ADF to 245 for the Mt. Johnson Ice Station NDB. We leave Mt Pattullo Ice Station on a heading of 284 making a slow turn to port coming to a heading of 236 and climbing to 6500 feet to clear the ridge. Once over the ridge, another slow turn to port coming to 169 following the glacier there. When you see the edge of the glacier coming ahead, look about 2:00 (starboard) and you will see the Mt Johnson Ice Station. The Rwy is 26/08, we will be landing on 26, a sharp starboard turn from your present heading.. (See Chart). Land or do a touch and go and continue on to Leg 11. |
Leg 11 Mt. Johnson Ice Station to Stewart BC Ops Center |
We leave Mt. Johnson Ice Station on a heading of 260, climb to 5500 feet. This is the Bear River Basin. . Once over the Bear River, heading south, you can come down to 1200 feet ... watching for one "bluff" coming out from port. This leg is an easy and scenic trip down the Bear River Basin for about 15 miles. When you see the Stewart Highway and the river coming in from port, watch for the Bear River Lodge beside the river. If you are float-equipped or in a helicopter, this is a pretty place to land and explore. Continue on down the river basin, safely flying low to enjoy the scenery. You will be lined up for a landing at the runway of Stewart BC. The CIRP Operations Center is on the far end of the runway. Welcome Back! |
|