AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 38
PILOT BRIEFING
Fly-outs made possible by ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
|
FLY-OUTS
|
Bettles Airport
Gateway to the Arctic
B Y A LY S S A J. M I L L E R
IF YOU GO
AFTER FLYING FOR HOURS over the remote mountains
and tundra in the Alaskan Brooks Range, few places are
as welcoming as Bettles Airport (PABT). Thirty-five
miles north of the Arctic Circle and 155 nautical miles
north of Fairbanks, Bettles is a common stop-for fuel,
a place to stay, a hearty meal, or an ice cream fix-for
pilots and tourists.
The quiet airport's 5,190-by-150-foot gravel runway
can turn into a bustle of activity. Brooks Range Aviation
operates a Cessna 185 and 206, and a Helio Courier, at
the gravel strip, and de Havilland Beavers, an Otter, and
a Cessna 185 on floats from a nearby seaplane base for
aerial adventures and transportation to drop-off points
for hiking, canoeing, and rafting. Bettles Air Service
offers flights in a de Havilland Beaver and Cessna 185
on floats, and a Cessna 206 and Piper Navajo, from
Fairbanks to Bettles and points in the Brooks Range.
The James W. Dalton Highway and Trans-Alaska
Pipeline run near the direct course from Fairbanks to
Bettles, giving pilots who aren't as familiar with the
area but want to fly themselves a little peace of mind for
emergency landing options. Everything is more expensive in the bush-fuel prices at the field are approaching
$9 a gallon.
38 | AOPA PILOT December 2014
Bettles Airport (PABT)
Bettles Lodge, located on
Located north of the city
the airport, offers a screened907-451-5250
Bettles Lodge 907-692-5111
in porch to keep visitors from
Rental cars
getting eaten by mosquitos
866-315-9155 (www.aopa.org/cars)
during the summer months
(consider donning a mosquito
head net before exiting the aircraft). Antlers and hanging baskets
with brightly colored flowers give the wooden lodge a rustic, homey
feel. Meals are pricey, but after camping, rafting, or flying over these
vast remote areas, any hearty meal is worth the price, as is running
water and a modern restroom.
This summer, a group of pilots from the Lower 48-New York,
Oklahoma, Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, Washington, and
Kentucky-who had been helping with a rustic bible camp converged on Bettles Lodge for breakfast at the same time as a tourist
group that included a couple from Australia. Ham, eggs, pancakes,
and perhaps most importantly, an assortment of hot beverages, offer
the comforts of home in the Arctic.
The lodge, which is included in the National Register of Historic
Places, is open year-round with activities for pilots and tourists. In
the winter, the lodge touts packages to see the Northern Lights, go
dog sledding or snowmobiling, and more.
EMAIL alyssa.miller@aopa.org
http://www.aopa.org/cars
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014
Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com