Originally Posted by
Chopchop5
I've got a ferry coming up from Portland to Anchorage in a AS350 with range extended tanks. Was wondering if anyone had flown that route and could give any info. Not from around here so not sure if there is a usual route that pilots take? Coast looks a lot shorter but weather along there doesn't look great, is it better to be inland?
What's your range, how may stops do you think? I'm not a pilot but have been on some long heli filghts in northern BC as a passenger as well as up and down the west coast of BC.
You could go coastal - Portland to Victoria, BC (Clear customs here easy) then up past Port Hardy, Bella Bella, Prince Rupert, then in to Alaska through Ketchikan, Sitka and up the coast. But you do not have many Plan B diversion spots on this route.
Another option is inland.
Bellingham WA - Abbotsford, BC (Clear Canada customs) - Williams Lake - Smithers - Dease Lake - Whitehorse - Northway Airport Alaska (Clear US customs) - Anchorage.