aviationGETTIN’ information for localTHERE destinations Destination: Rent-a-Car. The golf course has The first option is the most a restaurant that’s open during direct route however be aware Tofino (CYAZ) the summer but other than that that between the end of Lake if you want food you’ll need to Cowichan and Barkley Sound Why Go? head into town. you’ll encounter some pretty mountainous terrain. The sec- There are books and websites Getting There ond route takes a bit longer but full of reasons why you’d want is more scenic, taking you past to go to Tofino. The beaches There are basically three routes a couple of lighthouses. The are spectacular, the local area you can take to get to Tofino. third route is the longest route, has a ton of attractions and the They are: and it’s the only way to get to flight itself has some amazing Tofino if you haven’t taken the scenery – mountains, lakes, • Victoria -> Lake Cowichan -> Mountain Flying Course. Fi- islands, etc. All in all, the flight direct to Tofino. nally, no matter which route you to Tofino is the quintessential take remember you’ll be cross- West Coast aviation experience. • Victoria -> Lake Cowichan ing Barkley Sound so you’ll Depending on conditions, rout- -> Nitinat Lake -> coastline to want to have sufficient altitude ing, etc. figure on about sixty to Tofino. to reach shore if you need to. seventy-five minutes flight time each way. However, unless • Victoria -> Sooke -> coastline you go the long way around the to Tofino. coastline, this IS a mountain flight. If you’re flying Club air- craft you need to have taken the Mountain Flying Course to go to Tofino. Weather is also a fac- tor. Tofino is usually accessible in the summer but hit-and-miss during the winter. From the airport it’s a good twenty minute walk to the beach, and about a ten minute walk to the golf course. To get to town you will need to call a taxi from the airport terminal building or have made other transporta- tion arrangements. Located in the airport terminal building is Orca Airlines as well as Budget www.flyvfc.com Once you’re over Lake Co- Rwy 25 extends into the trees almost instantly so you’ll want wichan or out over Sooke you’re while Rwy 29 is close to the to keep a constant watch on out of controlled airspace and beach. that nearly permanent fog bank on your own. Don’t forget to sitting off-shore. Because the monitor Pacific Radio on 126.7. • If you’re landing on Rwy 16 weather can change while You also have the option of it’s better to go around the hill you’re in flight it’s a good idea climbing higher and requesting that’s on the approach path as to make use of Nanaimo Radio flight following from Vancouver opposed to turning base inside or Pacific Radio for up-to-date Centre. the hill. weather information while you’re enroute. Also, pay attention As you cross Barkley Sound • Taxiway Foxtrot has a gravel to fuel reserves and alternates you’ll be heading in the general covered ditch about halfway when doing your flight plan. If direction of Ucluelet, probably along. It is passable (or was you get to Tofino and can’t land a good time to start monitor- at the time of this writing) but your only viable alternates are ing the Tofino frequency since you do have to be careful if you usually Qualicum, Nanaimo or on a nice day there can be a choose to cross it. Victoria. Make sure you can get lot of traffic headed in and out there. Port Alberni is often over- of Tofino. Start your descent • The quickest way to the cast when Tofino is so you can’t when you feel it’s safe to do beach is south-east along the always count on Port Alberni as so. You’ll make your initial call terminal apron and taxiway Golf an alternate. to Nanaimo Radio (DON’T call to the road, turn right and follow them “Tofino Radio”… they get the road down to the main road. Other local weather factors to rather grumpy) before reaching There’s a parking lot with beach be aware of include: Florencia Bay. As you proceed access across the road. All in inbound to Tofino airport watch all, about a 15-20 minute walk. • There are no Weather Cams for the areas that have altitude at Tofino but the ones at Am- restrictions. • Check out the WWII vintage phitrite Point and Estevan Point building that houses the weath- Lightstation can give you an Local Knowledge er station. idea of what Tofino will be like. Flying into Tofino isn’t really • You need to be aware of Important Links wildlife, particularly deer and complicated and you shouldn’t & Contacts have much of a problem. How- bears. Bears often hang out in ever, here are a few things to be a small clearing off of taxi way G and occasionally can be seen Tofino Airport: aware of that you may not find www.tofinoairport.com/index written down: in the infield between the run- ways. I’ve also heard of people • There’s a landing fee at Tofino having to go around because of Tourism Tofino: www.tourismtofino.com/activi- which, at time or writing, is $15. animals on the runway so be on the lookout. ties • Fuel is available by card lock / credit card at the main apron. Weather Ucluelet Tourism: www.ucluelettourism.ca • The thresholds of Rwy 25 and Tofino has a METAR and a Rwy 29 are close together and TAF however you’ll also have it’s really easy to get mixed up to engage the Mark I eyeball. and land on the wrong runway. Weather at Tofino can change www.flyvfc.com.