| Flying in
Alaska is a very rewarding and adventuresome experience. It can be
done safely, but you'd better know what you are doing before you
venture far from the local airport. Alaska is a flying state. Many
communities cannot be reached by any other means because there are
no roads or trains to these communities. There are more pilots, and
more aircraft, in Alaska than in any other state. Anchorage, Alaska,
is the seaplane capital of the world. In addition to seaplanes and
float planes, there are plenty of fixed wing land aircraft,
commercial airliners, and military aircraft. In Alaska you can see,
and fly in, helicopters, ultra lights, hovercraft, and hot air
balloons. Alaska even has its own rocket launching site where
commercial rockets do their Cape Canaveral type "thing".
Flight seeing is a popular way to see
Mt. McKinley,
glaciers and wildlife. Emergency crews, geologists, and division of
wildlife employees use aircraft regularly. Aircraft charters are
available for hunting and fishing trips as well. There are nostalgic
flights available in vintage aircraft. There is an aviation museum
in Anchorage, near the International Airport, and also in Fairbanks.
If you do fly in the Anchorage bowl
area you should be aware there are special rules to follow because
of the density of air traffic there. The specific altitudes,
corridors, and frequencies are listed in
FAR
Part 93, described in the Anchorage Terminal Area Pilot Bulletin,
current Edition. It is also referred to as
Section 93.55
Subdivision of the Terminal Area. You should not fly into the area
without having reviewed that document. There are six segments
covered, including the Anchorage International Airport, Lake Hood
(sea plane and land plane base), Merrill Field, Elmendorf Air Force
Base, Bryant Segment, and the Seward Highway Segments.
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