Alert Bay Visit

Recently visited Alert Bay. Flew up with IZIM who found a convenient campsite beside the airstrip.
They disappeared for Tofino in the morning but we explored the island. Great place to visit, easy walk to Town where we stayed at the Seine Boat Inn. Took just over two hours return via Powell River as it is almost direct.

Dear Pacific Pilots and friends...(and see response from Guido the "Great Explorer" below the plan):

Some of you are familiar with this little gem of a flying adventure...Wx depending and TIDE depending.

Some of us have NOT been and so want to make sure SUMMER is captured with this little day trip adv...enture.

We are planning for August 30th/31st...all depending on TIDE and Weather.

Bring a food item to share or not to share...bring own eating utensils and beverage and let's go PLAY:

Aiming to have a large gathering. David Bianchi and I are spearheading this one.

Let us know your thoughts and attendance...it be FUN to land on the beach...(Experienced pilots only!). See More

From Guido the Great (my respect to his input and flying experience):

 

Great idea.  I've had enquiries from some pilots that want to try this but would be more comfortable in a group.

1. Check Tofino weather, especially webcams.  Sometimes it is foggy for a few hours in the morning.

2. Land in the damp sand - shows as grey in your photo.

3.  Once landed, don't go taxiing up into the dry soft stuff.

4.  Don't forget to look for whales in the water.

5.  Park warning not to bring dogs - lots of wolves around.

6.  I think low tide is around 10 or 11 those days, so should be ok.

 

Photo Collage from the Pacific Pilots Flying Trip from Surrey BC to Yellowknife, NWT

It was a spectacular adventure!  Full descriptive details in Aviation News Journal Sept/Oct 2014 issue. Also check out the Face Book Videos by David Bianchi and Joel Ellis.
Stay tuned for QUESNEL SKYFEST 2015 flying adventure!!
For more details: info@aviationnewsjournal.com

Fraser River Sandbars

Getting to be sandbar season with the water levels in the Fraser dropping.  Flying by one and got invited down on "Sesame Street" (that's what pilots call 123.45 radio frequency used for chat - despite what the AIP advises).

A couple of really big-tired airplanes were already there, making my 8:50x6 look like skateboard wheels.  One was a Carbon Cub, the other a trick looking Murphy Rebel that had  already had a flight on the end of a helicopter long-line after landing where he shouldn't have.

I  asked if they were the fabled "Sandbar Cowboys".  They sneered and said those are the cougar hunters on Granville Island, and that I probably meant the "Gravel Bar Cowboys" out of Langley and no they weren't those guys either, (greenhorn).

Then the three of us squirrel-caged around landing on different sandbars, what a hoot!

On the way back I checked out this year's corn maze near Cloverdale.  Must be a soccer fan.

Grand Forks Fly in

Don't put your camping gear away yet! The Grand Forks Fly-In is on Aug 24th - with overnight camping welcome on the 23rd. Hosted potluck (5pm) for anyone camping under the wing. Breakfast, Farmers Market and a whole lot more (from 7am - 11am). The weather (so far) looks real good. Full description in the August COPA paper, or, contact James Traynor at 250-442-5646 Anyone interested in coming with us?