Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Alaska's Denali National Park stands tall as a last frontier
DENALI NATIONAL PARK, Alaska — The six-seater Cessna 206 takes off from a small gravel airstrip in the 9 p.m. summer sunlight and soon is buzzing like a gnat around the imposing snow-covered tallest peak in North America.
From the air on a "flightseeing" tour, Denali— also known as Mount McKinley— looks like an inviting iced confection. But the 20,320-footer, whose name means "The Great One" in Athabaskan Indian language, is a killing ground for hikers. Frozen remains still are recovered, says Kantishna Air Taxi owner/pilot Greg LaHaie, circling over the spot where climbers begin their final ascent — maybe waiting a week or more for favorable weather.
From the air on a "flightseeing" tour, Denali— also known as Mount McKinley— looks like an inviting iced confection. But the 20,320-footer, whose name means "The Great One" in Athabaskan Indian language, is a killing ground for hikers. Frozen remains still are recovered, says Kantishna Air Taxi owner/pilot Greg LaHaie, circling over the spot where climbers begin their final ascent — maybe waiting a week or more for favorable weather.
PHOTO GALLERY: In and above Denali National Park
READ MORE: Alaska deals celebrate 50 years of statehood
"You sit in a crevasse for days in freezing temperatures with the wind blowing like a jet engine overhead," LaHaie tells his passengers. "Not my idea of fun." But the more than 1,000 climbers who try each year would disagree.
As the 49th state celebrates its 50th anniversary of statehood this year, Alaska — also in the spotlight thanks to suddenly retired governor and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin— is still the USA's Last Frontier. It's home to glaciers, spawning salmon, giant halibut and foraging bears, hardy outdoorsmen and women and moose, as well as political mavericks.
"You sit in a crevasse for days in freezing temperatures with the wind blowing like a jet engine overhead," LaHaie tells his passengers. "Not my idea of fun." But the more than 1,000 climbers who try each year would disagree.
As the 49th state celebrates its 50th anniversary of statehood this year, Alaska — also in the spotlight thanks to suddenly retired governor and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin— is still the USA's Last Frontier. It's home to glaciers, spawning salmon, giant halibut and foraging bears, hardy outdoorsmen and women and moose, as well as political mavericks.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
World's Most Dangerous Airports..........3
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport.
(IATA: SAB, ICAO: TNCS) is the only airport on the Caribbean island of Saba, in the Netherlands Antilles. It is well known among experienced fliers for the way in which airplanes must approach or take off from the airport.
Information.
Some aviation experts are of the general opinion that the airport is one of the most dangerous in the world, even though no major tragedies have happened at the facility. The airport's sole runway is marked with an X at each end, to indicate to commercial pilots that the airport is closed for commercial aviation.
The danger arises from the airport's physical position. It is flanked on one side by high hills, and on the other side and at both ends of the runway by cliffs dropping into the sea. This creates the possibility that an airplane might overshoot the runway during landing or takeoff and end up in the sea or on the cliffs.
Although the airport is marked as a non-commercial facility, airlines are able to land there by obtaining waivers from the Netherlands Antilles' Civil Aviation Authority.
Yrausquin Airport can be seen from some places in Saint Martin.
Facilities.
Large jet aircraft are unable to land at the airport, because the runway is too short (approx. 1,300 ft or 396 m. However, smaller airplanes (DHC-6, BN-2 and helicopters) are common sights there. There is a small ramp and terminal on the south side of the runway. The ramp also has a designated helipad. The terminal building houses offices for Winair, immigration and security, a fire department with one fire truck and a tower. The tower is an advisory service only and does not provide air traffic control. Aviation fuel is not available on the island of Saba.
Airlines and Destinations.
WinAir (St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts).
The only airline currently serving Yrausquin airport is locally owned Windward Islands Airways, which operates daily flights to St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and St. Kitts aboard a DHC-6 Twin Otter. The flight to St. Maarten takes about twelve minutes. Windward Express Airways also provides charter service to Saba aboard a BN-2 Islander.
(IATA: SAB, ICAO: TNCS) is the only airport on the Caribbean island of Saba, in the Netherlands Antilles. It is well known among experienced fliers for the way in which airplanes must approach or take off from the airport.
Information.Some aviation experts are of the general opinion that the airport is one of the most dangerous in the world, even though no major tragedies have happened at the facility. The airport's sole runway is marked with an X at each end, to indicate to commercial pilots that the airport is closed for commercial aviation.
The danger arises from the airport's physical position. It is flanked on one side by high hills, and on the other side and at both ends of the runway by cliffs dropping into the sea. This creates the possibility that an airplane might overshoot the runway during landing or takeoff and end up in the sea or on the cliffs.
Although the airport is marked as a non-commercial facility, airlines are able to land there by obtaining waivers from the Netherlands Antilles' Civil Aviation Authority.
Yrausquin Airport can be seen from some places in Saint Martin.
Facilities.Large jet aircraft are unable to land at the airport, because the runway is too short (approx. 1,300 ft or 396 m. However, smaller airplanes (DHC-6, BN-2 and helicopters) are common sights there. There is a small ramp and terminal on the south side of the runway. The ramp also has a designated helipad. The terminal building houses offices for Winair, immigration and security, a fire department with one fire truck and a tower. The tower is an advisory service only and does not provide air traffic control. Aviation fuel is not available on the island of Saba.
Airlines and Destinations.WinAir (St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts).
The only airline currently serving Yrausquin airport is locally owned Windward Islands Airways, which operates daily flights to St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and St. Kitts aboard a DHC-6 Twin Otter. The flight to St. Maarten takes about twelve minutes. Windward Express Airways also provides charter service to Saba aboard a BN-2 Islander.
Friday, May 8, 2009
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