Flight: PAOT to PALU

The far north isn't all in Canada. Alaska is worth attention, too. In the winter months of November, December, January, the northern parts of Alaska dim and darken, the days become shorter and the dawn and dusk periods become longer. The green slopes and valleys turn white with snow, and air travel becomes even more important. For many communities in Alaska, air travel becomes the only practical way to maintain contact with the outside world.

This flight is planned to use the Piper PA18 supercub, probably the most popular airplane in the whole state. It is rugged, can land on the shortest strips, and doesn't even need a runway. It is a bush plane, preferred by guides, sportsmen, and explorers. You'll want to get a supercub and install it for this trip. I recommend the file pa-18_two_emblems.zip on Avsim -- you get not only a great upgrade for the standard wheeled piper cub, but also a float plane version. These planes are equipped with IFR navigation aids, including VOR and ADF radios, and an autopilot of sorts. The default piper cub doesn't have the navigation aids we need for this flight.

Once you've got the planes installed, position yourself at a "ramp GA small" parking spot at PAOT, Wien Meml, Kotzebue, AK. This airport is somewhat of a hub for traffic in the northwest part of the state, as it has VOR and NDB on field, paved runways, fuel, and even light repair and maintenance facilities. It serves as a natural base for your explanations into northwest AK.

For your flight plan, choose VFR navigation beginning at PAOT and flying to PALU, Cape Lisburne LRRS. Cape Lisburne is located on a corner of land surrounded with mountains and rocks. Actually it's not the easiest place to land. You'll appreciate the low landing speed and maneuverability of the PA18 when trying to approach this gravel runway. I used a runway 26 approach, which allowed me a straight-in approach, skirting the rocks of a mountain that -almost- but not quite blocked my path.

The flight plan itself is simple. From PAOT to OTZ VOR, just beyond the end of runway 8. From OTZ, take an OBS course of 308 to Cape Lisburne NDB, LUR. Connect from there to PALU, your destination airport. Total distance is 146 nautical miles, and ETE (estimated time enroute) is one hour and 40 minutes.

After you cross the VOR, all you have to do is line yourself up with the VOR on a track of 308 degrees, turn on the autopilot (there's a button on the panel for this), choose NAV1 HOLD (shift+N on the keyboard), and you're on your way. By the time deviation from the VOR course becomes a concern, you should be able to receive the NDB on 385.0 kHz, and follow it in.

A departure time of 10AM (2000Z) is good, because it ensures you'll have some daylight at Lisburne when you arrive. Not a lot. But it should be adequate.

I think what I enjoyed most about this flight, besides looking at the rugged Alaskan landscape, was proving the ability of the PA18 supercub to navigate a relatively long-distance route. After turning on the autopilot, I actually went and did other things for an hour, letting the plane fly on its own. When I checked the screen, we were about 30 miles out, about 5 miles east of planned track, and ready to descend. "Piece of cake."

Good luck!