FEATURE FEATURE FAIRBANKS FAIRBANKS The Last

Air North Boeing 737- he primary direct route to Fairbanks To better serve the community, 2X6C(A) C-GANV (c/n 23122) International Airport (FAI) from Congressional authorisation was given to Frontier arrives on stand at Fairbanks Seattle takes you over some of the develop a new international airport in 1948, on July 8. The aircraft planet’s most spectacular scenery 4 miles (6.4km) west of the downtown area. was ferrying oil and gas Tduring the three-and-a-half-hour flight. It was finished three years later at which industry workers to and from Once there you’ll be greeted by a modern point all commercial flights switched across Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay on terminal (opened in 2009) and, depending from Ladd AFB. However, infrastructure Alaska’s northern coast. (Key – on the time of year, you might even find and amenities were minimal, leaving Mark Nicholls) the sun beaming away at midnight... which airlines to use temporary structures until is a very curious feeling indeed. Fairbanks a passenger terminal opened in 1954. Alaska Airlines is the is about 120 miles (190km) south of the The airport was run by the federal primary carrier serving FAI, Arctic Circle and is perfectly placed as a government until Alaska was granted with flights to Anchorage and base from which to explore some incredible statehood in 1959, at which point smaller communities within responsibility for FAI was handed over to the state, and to Seattle, landscapes, visit a wealth of attractions and Washington. (AirTeamImages. at opposite times of the year, to experience the state’s Department of Public Works. com/Angelo Bufalino) 24-hour daylight or the awe-inspiring Aurora This was later passed to the Department of Borealis (Northern Lights). Charters bring Transportation and Public Facilities, which travellers from around the world to view remains in control today. A separate GA the natural spectacle during the long winter runway (01-19L) was added in 1971 aligned nights, with visitors from Asia becoming parallel to the main stretch of tarmac. more prevalent. Attractions and activities The Alaska International Airport System abound all year round and the city’s airport (AIAS) was set up in 1961 encompassing stands ready to welcome anyone eager to FAI and Anchorage International Airport venture north to enjoy them. (now Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport) with the intention of making History efficient use of both facilities. There is An airstrip was established at Weeks Field no state funding – revenues and costs (also called Weeks Ball Park) to serve the are shared by both facilities with local growing town, as people began to explore management in charge of day-to-day the frozen wilderness to the north – the last running, and the setting of landing frontier. The airstrip gained importance, fees and other charges fall under the especially after pioneering pilot Carl Ben jurisdiction of the Alaska Department Eielson arrived and flew Alaska’s first air of Transportation and Public Facilities. mail service in 1924. Most of the region’s Fairbanks airport’s development has GA and commercial traffic remained gone hand-in-hand with that of the concentrated at Weeks Field until the early city and its population. In particular, 1950s, although some carriers also used passenger numbers and cargo volumes Ladd Air Force Base, now the US Army’s soared between 1974 and 1977 while the Fort Wainwright. Today what was Weeks Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was being Field is a residential area. built. Two years later international

Signs at the front of the terminal simply point to arrivals and departures; note the ‘Migration’ sculpture in the centre. (Fairbanks International Airport/ Ken Graham Photography)

ALASKA Fairbanks, in Alaska's vast interior, has much to offer the intrepid YUKON explorer whatever the time of year. Managing Editor TERRITORY Mark Nicholls visited its international airport – a vital communications node for the state’s oil and gas industry and the gateway to natural wonders, the Arctic tundra and much more. airports of the world www.airportsworld.com FEATURE FEATURE FAIRBANKS FAIRBANKS cargo flights started using FAI for and its southern end can be reconfigured technical fuel stops – Japan Airlines and to section off parts of both the departure Korean Airlines being the first. Other lounge and arrivals hall to handle direct carriers followed suit, bringing in large international flights and international freighters such as the Boeing 747, Douglas transit passengers. Shutters in the DC-8 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10. While departure lounge can be lowered to seal off this new business was most welcome, it the end of the building, creating up to three placed a heavy burden on the airport’s separate sections. International travellers infrastructure. The flights stopped in can then be screened by immigration, while 1984 (many moved to the larger facility transit passengers remain segregated. at Anchorage), but resumed in September Once through immigration the second 1990 with Lufthansa Cargo. landside baggage carousel can also be isolated using drop-down walls in the Terminal arrivals hall, permitting the necessary The current passenger terminal, costing customs inspections. At the press of a $89 million, opened in 2009, replacing button, the walls are raised and the terminal the original 1954 structure. Last year it becomes purely domestic again. A novel handled almost a million passengers, but solution to a common problem smaller it could take up to four times that number. airports face when dealing with limited There are six airbridge gates, two for Alaska direct international flights. Airlines, two common-use, one for Delta Air Not surprisingly there is great concern for Lines and one for ConocoPhillips’ Alaska oil the environment in this part of the world industry flights. In addition there are two and FAI’s terminal makes good use some walk-on gates at the northern end of the ‘green’ technologies. For example ground building used by smaller regional aircraft water is used to cool the terminal during the serving outlying communities. summer. After the long, cold winter, ground Landside the terminal is fronted by a large water stays almost at freezing, even in mid- During the summer the water runway is particularly busy. Privately-owned de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver N73Q gets airborne. (Keith Burton) open-air car park, with short- and long-stay is equipped with two baggage carousels. One of the summer. It is piped to a special unit, cooling options, as well as a rental car area. To Near the centre of the building is a Military fire and rescue the air which is then pumped around the area are displays from a local aviation simplify drop-off and pick-up signs only Lounge, that is used exclusively by service building – natural air conditioning. museum and the University of Alaska Airport Statistics department’s indicate ‘arrivals’ and ‘departures’, rather personnel – the US Army’s Fort Wainwright Display cases are dotted around the Fairbanks. Suspended from the ceiling Oshkosh appliances ICAO Code: PAFA than individual zones for airlines. and the US Air Force Eielson Air Force Base terminal containing examples of the local above one of the two baggage reclaim IATA Code: FAI Alaska Airlines’ check-in is the most being nearby. parked inside its wildlife, including a white wolf, grizzly bear carousels is Curtiss JN-4D Jenny 47358, Location: 64° 48.54’ N, 147° 51.23’ W central and features self-service kiosks as Post security the departure lounge has garage at the and polar bear. Several works of art are also which is owned by the University of Alaska Elevation: 439ft (134m) well as traditional desks; other carrier’s a souvenir shop, small cafe and other Airport Response on show, among them is a metal sculpture Museum of the North based in Fairbanks. Runways: 02L/20R 11,800 x 150ft desks are to the left. The arrival hall is amenities. At first sight that’s it; however, Center. (Key – Mark called ‘Migration’ that greets passengers (3,597 x 46m) at the northern end of the terminal and this terminal was designed to be ‘smart’ Nicholls) outside the entrance and inside the sterile Infrastructure Not many airports can handle every type 02R/20L 6,501 x 100ft of aircraft, whether it has large wheels (1,981 x 30m) (airliners), small wheels (GA), floats or 02W/20W 5,400 x 100ft skis, but FAI can. The primary Runway (Not for (1,646 x 30m) airborne or 02L/20R is 11,800ft (3,597m) long and can 02/20 2,900 x 75 operational accommodate any aircraft currently flying, (884 x 23m) gravel use – Navtech including the giant Antonov An-225, which Aerad) Frequencies: ATIS: 124.4 has visited on occasions. It comprises Tower: 118.3 grooved asphalt and both directions are Ground: 121.9 ILS-equipped and have four-light PAPIs. Approach: 118.6, 125.35, 126.5 At the northern end of the parallel GA Website: www.dot.state.ak.us/faiiap runway (02R/20L) on the same alignment is a gravel strip for summer use, but in winter it becomes a snow runway for ski- equipped aircraft. Between the main and GA runways is a long thin lake used by floatplanes – the ‘runway’ being marked by a series of red buoys. Several good-size aprons on the commercial site are used by scheduled passenger flights, visiting and transient aircraft, as well as the vital regional supply flights provided by Everts Air Cargo and Everts Air Fuel. One apron at the southern end can take up to four 747s at a time. Across all aprons the airport can accommodate up to 27 747s at a time when necessary. Several old propliners are stored by Everts (as a spares source) outside its two hangars either side of the passenger terminal. The ATC tower sits beside the GA This aerial view of the airport apron and is regularly used to train new (its boundary marked in orange) controllers – giving the latest recruits clearly shows the four runways: two exposure to practically every kind of asphalt, one gravel and one water. A cafe and bar are among the terminal’s airside facilities; the large windows give an excellent situation and aircraft they are likely to (Fairbanks International Airport) view across the airfield. (Fairbanks International Airport/Ken Graham Photography) deal with anywhere in the US. airports of the world www.airportsworld.com FEATURE FEATURE FAIRBANKS FAIRBANKS

to liaise directly – helped by comprehensive Tour Company has a check-in for its various communications suites to help speed up Everts Air Cargo Curtiss C-46F Commando N54514 Maid in Japan comes tours. Similarly, Warbelow’s Air Ventures reaction times. in to land. The opportunity to watch and listen to these wonderful old is just along the adjacent taxiway. Airport police and fire officers (four transports is now almost exclusively restricted to Alaska. (Keith Burton) In the northeast corner of the airfield, off women and 19 men) receive one-and-a- the Charlie taxiway, is an unusual find – an half years of extensive training (the EOC air camping park designed specifically doubles as an airport training centre) and for GA visitors. It is equipped with two can perform several roles, perhaps policing barbecue pits, showers, toilets and two one day and fire-fighting the next. FAI's covered pavilions and this wooded area has operations officers are among the most 15 ‘alcoves’ either side of a gravel taxiway credentialed in the airport industry. Five in which to park aircraft, allowing visitors officers coordinate all landside and airside set up camp under the wings of their plane. activity and are further responsible for Visitors can park for $10 per day. airport security and wildlife mitigation. Nearby is the University of Alaska There is also a Communications Fairbanks Community and Technical College Center which overseas the day-to-day aviation maintenance technology hangar. communications and alarm monitoring It boasts one of the few 12-month FAA- of the airport. It receives any fire alarms certified, Part-147 school programmes in Air Arctic Inc from the terminal, reports maintenance see the Northern Lights, and enjoy numerous Three of the airport’s snow clearance the US, an associate’s degree in aviation Piper PA-31 N59826 indicators from around the facility and activities including dog sledding. brooms stand in the short-lived maintenance, and certificates in airframe, (c/n 31-7652077) monitors the terminal via an extensive Anchorage-based Ravn Alaska runs summer sun. (Key – powerplant, or airframe and powerplant. awaits its next CCTV system. extensive flights to many small outlying Mark Nicholls) tour passengers Airport Manager Jesse VanderZanden told communities across the vast state, notably Prospects for one of the Airports of the World: “We take great pride to the oil town of Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay Fairbanks and the North Star Borough in many summer in the new Airport Response Center. This as well as to Barrow, Fort Yukon, Galena, which it sits, have approximately 100,000 trips provided by facility brings together all of the airport's Kotzebue, Point Hope and a connection inhabitants so origin and destination traffic Northern Alaska Tour critical operational and emergency response to Anchorage. It uses a mixed fleet of is fairly light. Tourists make up most of the Company. (Key – teams. Housing three departments within a small aircraft, ranging from 19-seat Beech passenger traffic, while business travellers Mark Nicholls) single facility allows a one-stop shop for our 1900C/Ds and six Bombardier Dash 8-100s and those employed in the oil and gas Curtiss JN-4D customers and creates a plethora of inter- to Cessna 207s and 208s and two former industries account for the remainder. Jenny 47358, departmental synergies.” Arctic Circle Air Short 330s that carry cargo. Yet FAI is within nine-and-a-half hours’ owned by the It is also the sole mail supplier to the villages flying time of 90% of the northern University of Alaska Airlines of the North Slope region, and the smaller industrialised hemisphere and Europe Museum of the The primary carrier is Alaska Airlines (and aircraft in its fleet give vital access to some is barely eight hours away by a direct North, is displayed its subsidiary Horizon Air), which has busy of the remotest communities in the US. polar flight. This is why Anchorage above one of the routes to Anchorage and Seattle as well Resident carrier Warbelow’s Air Ventures welcomes dozens of cargo aircraft every baggage reclaim as flights to smaller communities around also links isolated communities, mostly to day for technical stops, which FAI can carousels. (Key – the state. Delta Air Lines competes on the the north of Fairbanks where many are also accommodate. Thanks to so many Mark Nicholls) popular Seattle run and from this winter will inaccessible by road. In partnership with tourist attractions, outdoor recreation run a year-round service using Embraer 175s. the Northern Alaska Tour Company its and superb wildlife on the doorstep, Frontier Airlines flew in from its Denver aircraft are available for a wide range of accompanied by a plethora of man-made The 16-person airfield maintenance team Airlines hub between 2009 and 2014, but pulled out mainly summer tours, plus the popular sights, there is enormous potential for aims to carry out routine repairs and larger during a route consolidation exercise. United Aurora Borealis and winter adventure trips. increased passenger traffic. jobs during the summer months because Air North Canada Airlines competed on the same route but it Everts Air has to be the most appealing Seven hotels are within a mile radius the severe cold in winter makes such work Alaska Airlines too has withdrawn, perhaps surprisingly as carrier based at FAI for anyone interested of the airport, several beside the Chena particularly difficult. As you would expect, Bettles Air Service it would have had a monopoly. However, it in aviation. It is actually two companies – River which borders the western side of snow clearance is vital at FAI and so two Condor (seasonal) continues to fly to Chicago O’Hare. Everts Air Cargo hauls freight to remote the facility. They provide a convenient shifts of eight staff are rostered and have at Delta Air Lines During the summer Condor flies in once a airstrips across the state, while Everts Air base from which to explore the city and their disposal two ploughs and five motorised week (Thursdays) from Frankfurt, currently Fuel specialises in transporting largely surrounding area with excellent road links Everts Air brooms, plus an assortment of other the only direct European connection – the petrol-based flammable and hazardous to the city centre, barely 15 minutes away. vehicles, including de-icers. A fascinating FedEx Express city is the smallest in the US with a non-stop materials. Everts is Federal Aviation For airlines considering new routes, the piece of equipment, nicknamed the ‘Yeti’ 40-Mile Air link to Europe. Canada's Air North flies Regulations Part 121-certified, permitting it occasionally bring their latest products to airport is an attractive option. Delays are Row after row was developed on site and is used to break Japan Airlines summer tourists between Dawson City, Yukon to provide domestic, flag, and supplemental Developed by FAI for low temperature testing during the almost unheard of as VRF applies for 94% of GA types are a member of the up ice that can form on the taxiways after Northern Air Cargo and Fairbanks serveal times a day using a services. The cargo arm flies mostly Douglas depths of the Alaskan winter. of the year and low-visibility hours average ranged along the on-site airfield freezing rain, rendering them dangerous. Boeing 737-200. Winter charters from Asia DC-6s along with Embraer EMB-120s, Cessna les than ten per year. Winds are usually RAVN Alaska large apron on the maintenance The ice can produce a slippery surface on top are becoming increasingly popular – Japan 208 Caravans, McDonnell Douglas MD-80s very light, giving an aircraft captain the ConocoPhillips (Shared Services Aviation) eastern side of team, the ‘Yeti’ is General Aviation of the super-cold rock-hard taxiways, which Airlines has been coming to FAI for more and of course a Curtiss C-46 Commando. A Driving along the GA apron is akin to being discretion of whether to arrive or depart United Airlines the airport. (Key – used to break up would otherwise be perfectly useable. The Mark Nicholls) than a decade while Korean Air flights began further three C-46s, four DC-6s and two Air at Oshkosh, with vast numbers of small either north or south. Warbelow’s Air Ventures surface ice that ‘Yeti’ is towed across the affected areas so last year. This winter the airport will also Tractor AT-802s are used by Everts Air Fuel. can form on the types neatly lined up including what must Open 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, with Wright Air Service that its rows of irregularly spaced toughened welcome China Airlines bringing in visitors to Aircraft, engine and APU manufacturers airport’s taxiways be one of the largest concentrations of an 11,800ft runway, enjoying excellent steel ‘teeth’ can progressively smash the ice after freezing Piper Cubs and Super Cubs on the planet. weather for the majority of the year (even apart for a following broom to sweep away. rain. (Key – Mark The eastern side of the Float Pond has in winter) and with a modern uncongested Nicholls) dozens of moorings for floatplanes. terminal, Fairbanks International Airport Airport Response Center Numerous small businesses and air is ideally placed to welcome new airlines A modern and extremely well equipped $15 carriers work from the eastern side of and their passengers to one of the most million Airport Response Center (ARC) came the airport, with easy access by the Old amazing regions on Earth. into use earlier this year. It is one of the Airport Road that borders the GA area. most impressive I’ve ever seen, especially Hangars, workshops and other ancillary Acknowledgements for a small airport. It brings together police, buildings are often surrounded by dozens The Editor would like to thank Jesse fire, operations, maintenance and airport of aircraft, many stored or up for sale, VanderZanden, Airport Manager, Melissa badging and permit staff in one place. There alongside others on long-term maintenance. Osborn, Chief of Operations and Angie are dedicated facilities for an Emergency Near the control tower a North American Spear, Division Operations Manager for Operations Center (EOC) if there were a T-6 Texan is available for warbird rides and major incident, allowing all related agencies a short distance away the Northern Alaska their assistance in preparing this article. airports of the world www.airportsworld.com TRAVEL SPOT TRAVEL SPOT FAIRBANKS FAIRBANKS

Panning for A musher and of miles west of the city centre is the 44-acre A mind-boggling array of exhibits helps tell riches at the Gold dog team race (18ha) Pioneer Park, which celebrates Alaska’s story – its culture, its history and its Useful Websites down a frozen Fairbank’s and Alaska's heritage. The park, wildlife. Photos, artefacts, wood and ivory Dredge 8 attraction www.explorefairbanks.com near Fox, just slough in Fairbanks which features reconstructed cabins offering carvings help visitors discover 2,000 years www.northernalaska.com north of Fairbanks. during the Open glimpses into the past, also has a range of of Alaskan art. North American www.morristhompsoncenter.org (Sherman Hogue/ shops, activities and restaurants including The museum is actively involved in Championship Sled www.downtownfairbanks.com Explore Fairbanks) the Alaska Salmon Bake and its all-you-can education programmes, with local school Dog Race. (Jade eat nightly buffet of prime rib, fire-grilled children regularly using its dedicated www.uaf.edu/museum Fairbanks Frank/FCVB) f all the cities I’ve visited over 10°C and 21°C. The long winter effectively around 34,000. The compact centre has The memorial salmon and beer-battered Alaskan cod. classrooms to learn about the state’s history. www.riverboatdiscovery.com the years, Fairbanks, Alaska, has starts in September when the first snow only a few streets and can easily be explored commemorating Among the attractions is the Pioneer One of the city’s best attractions is also www.golddredge8.com been by far the most surprising. usually falls, and lasts until May, leaving just in a day – it is possible to drive from the the pilots who flew Air Museum, which concentrates on among the hardest to find. Hidden away www.fountainheadmuseum.com It’s not a place you often read three short summer months. airport on the western side to the eastern US-built aircraft Alaska’s flying heritage. Fronted by a pole- on Wedgewood Drive is the Fountainhead www.pioneerairmuseum.org Oabout, giving the impression there is not Fairbanks lies in the Tanana Valley on the side of the centre in around 15 minutes. to Russia as part mounted Beech 18, the domed museum Antique Auto Museum. I’ve been to several www.pioneerpark.us much to see or do – but nothing could be Chena River. This means cold air often Despite its small size, there is plenty to of the World War is quite small, meaning its artefacts are car museums, but this is easily in the top www.pumphouse.com further from the truth. It has a wealth of becomes trapped over the city in winter, see, including the Morris Thompson Cultural Two Lend-Lease tightly packed. That said there are some two. The collection of American cars dates fascinating attractions and is surrounded and ice fog can form. But generally it is & Visitors Center, which is a good starting agreement. (All fascinating items on display, including from 1898 to 1936 – and all except three are www.akvisit.com by the vast Alaskan interior, with swathes a dry cold, with little moisture; so in the point for first-time visitors. It has an array photos Key – Mark a Bell UH-1H Huey, a Noorduyn UC-64 in full working order. Immaculate is not www.alaska.org of pine forests, mountains, rivers and lakes same way the dry heat of Arizona makes of exhibits and information about camping, Nicholls unless Norseman and a Ryan PT-22. But it is adequate to describe their finish, which all waiting to be explored. the temperature more bearable, so the outdoor activities and local attractions, as stated) the photographs that are perhaps most is testament to the huge amount of work It celebrates the indigenous Indian cold is less noticeable than it would be in well as helpful staff. interesting, especially those showing the put in by the two resident mechanics and population and promotes a ‘can do’ attitude damper climates. There is an extraordinary arch of caribou vast numbers of ‘Lend-Lease’ US aircraft several volunteers. – essential in America’s largest and most Compensating for the cold are the antlers close to the visitors’ centre alongside passing through to join the beleaguered What makes this museum stand out from challenging state. spectacular displays of the aurora borealis, or the Chena River. A short walk along Russian Air Force during World War Two. the crowd is the superb use of historical Northern Lights. The natural phenomenon the river bank brings you to the Golden Staying with museums, the University photographs and dozens of original period I say challenging because of the climate. The spectacular Fairbanks is barely 120 miles (190km) south of is visible on average more than 200 days a Heart Plaza and an aviation memorial. It of Alaska Museum of the North, on high costumes. The clothing has been sourced aurora borealis is Crossing the the Arctic Circle and being so far north makes year, and because the city is so far north, commemorates the US to Siberia World ground to the northwest of the city is not from across the US and is placed beside visible in Fairbanks Arctic Circle at 66° for short summers and long cold winters. And the light show is directly overhead. War Two delivery flights by American and for more than 200 33’ 00” north in a only impressive, it also provides a great cars of the same vintage – a simple but I mean cold – the average winter temperature As well as being known as America’s coldest Russian pilots who flew much-needed days each year. North Aslaska Tour view across Fairbanks. The modern US$42 effective display technique. is -26°C to -32°C (the record is -50°C set in city, Fairbanks is also the farthest north and US-built aircraft to the Eastern Front. (Sherman Hogue/ Company Piper million building opened in 2006 and is Apart from fast-food outlets and popular 1934) – yet in summer it is usually between one of the smallest, with a population of Keeping with the aviation theme, a couple Explore Fairbanks) PA-31. climate-controlled to protect the collection. supermarkets, Fairbanks has few of

airports of the world www.airportsworld.com TRAVEL SPOT FAIRBANKS

The impressive Gold Dredge 8 at Fox, north of Fairbanks. the well-known branded hotels, bars and experience and well worth the trip. the tiny village of Wiseman (population The restaurants found in the rest of the US. You can strike it rich at the Gold Dredge 13), where resident Jack Reakoff gives an Pioneer Air Museum Local business proliferates, with dozens 8, as you get the chance to pan for gold enthralling talk about, survival, hunting, is crammed of cafes and restaurants unique to the during the tour (even I found $35 worth!). basic living and life in terrifying low with fascinating area – including the Cookie Jar Restaurant, A narrow-gauge railway takes you past temperatures. It’s then back to the photographs and Sam’s Sourdough Cafe, the Pump House, several dioramas showing the evolution Coldfoot truck stop and chance for a bite artefacts. LuLu’s Breads & Bagels and the Silver of gold prospecting before arriving at to eat in the famous truckers’ cafe before One of Gulch Brewing and Bottling Company, to the main site dominated by the rusting heading across the Dalton to the small the world’s most name just a few. hulk of the old Gold Dredge 8 machine. airfield and the 70-minute flight back to impressive collections The same is true for accommodation, A museum section details the history of Fairbanks. Thoroughly recommended! of its kind is on with plenty of independents providing a the site and Alaskan prospecting while a If time permits then a trip to the display at the wide range of rooms to suit all pockets. I US$75,000 gold nugget that was found Denali National Park should certainly be Fountainhead Antique can certainly recommend Sophie Station at the site is on display at the jewellery considered (a two-hour drive). The park Auto Museum. Suites for cleanliness, polite service and shop inside the main building. is home to Mount McKinley, America’s The sign says a good, quiet restaurant. If you want to be more adventurous, highest peak, pristine rivers, and, of it all – 63 miles Two of the best local attractions are the take one of the Northern Alaska Tour course, plenty of wildlife, including north of the Arctic Riverboat Discovery tours and the Gold Company’s packages. There are several grizzly bears, wolves and caribou. Circle at Wiseman. Dredge 8, which tells the story of Alaskan options, including fly-drive and fly-fly, If you want to see the Northern Lights, The remote village gold prospecting. Travelling down a which start from the firm’s small terminal then you must go in winter, but otherwise is beautiful – and river on a large American riverboat on the GA side of the airport. You venture summer is the best time to visit as you can incredibly quiet! is an entirely relaxing experience, but north to Coldfoot on the Dalton Highway, use the 24-hour daylight to best advantage. A rather large extras are thrown in, such as a Piper made famous by the Ice Road Truckers You will never be short of things to do, so grizzly bear is among Cub floatplane taking off and landing TV series. The fly-drive involves a long if you want a truly unique experience, then the exhibits at the right beside you, a stop beside the coach trip up the Dalton to Coldfoot and I can wholeheartedly recommend a week University of Alaska kennels of the late Iditarod Champion then a flight back, or vice-versa. or two in Fairbanks. Museum of the North. Susan Butcher to see her sled dogs in I took the fly-fly option, which gives action, and then mooring to explore an a great idea of the vastness of Alaska A native Alaskan Athabascan Indian village. as well as providing some spectacular Acknowledgements Indian guide explains Here the boat’s passengers are split views of the mountains, forests, rivers The Editor would like to thank Amy Reed the various furs and their uses to her in to three groups and escorted around and lakes. If you’re sitting at the front Geiger, Director of Communications, and captivated audience three displays where Indian boys and girls of the Piper PA-31 you can watch the GPS Jerry Evans, Public Relations Manager of at the Athabascan (part of the boat crew) give short but readout reach 66° 33’ 00” north as you Explore Fairbanks for their hospitality and Indian village on the cross the Arctic Circle. informative lectures about frontier living assistance in preparing this feature. Chena River. and survival. An absolutely fascinating Once in Coldfoot, a minibus takes you to

46 airports of the world