PIREP Sled-1

Photo: The office view of a Boeing 727

PANC-KFCA: Departed drunk and early (sorry, been watching too many Groucho movies) on Feb 1. As the aircraft was empty was able to climb up to FL 410 for this Eastbound flight. Sun in the screen on the climbout but it made for some good views on the way up. The trip was uneventful. This was my first time into KFCA and and the approach into the airport was spectacular with a 360-degree view of the mountains - would recommend this trip to any who have not been there.

Flight : Sled-1 (Outbound)
Date : 2/1/2007
Name : Vic
TCA# 2613
# Aboard: Ferry
VFR/IFR : IFR
Aircraft: Boeing 727-200 freighter
Depart. : Anchorage PANC
Destin. : Kalispel KFCA
Dep.time: 08:28 local
Enroute : 03:56
Fuel : 22412#s
Route : SHOPE CAPEM A1 SIT B28 PR UAB AR35 WL YNY ATHUR B18 FIRNI
Speed : M 0.80
Altitude: FL 410

Upon arrival we loaded the sleds and other gear; I was hoping to grab a bite for dinner but it took longer than I expected to load. The gear was no problem, it all fit into a cargo pod that we loaded first. The sleds took longer - each fairly light, but they take up a lot of space. We first secured sleds to the floor, and then slid others in on top and around and lashed sled-to-sled to fit them all in. Once secure I headed to the Holiday Inn Express. As an express there was no dinner available but the nice folks there let me break into their breakfast stash, so I had some cereal and day-old bagels, then to sleep.

KFCA-PANC: We launched around 9 AM this morning and the weather was exactly the opposite of the evening before, snow, overcast, 2-miles visibility. As the load was light, we flew the trip at FL380. Real nice weather at PANC for the landing on 14, and then settled in at the TCA cargo ramp next to a JAL747 freighter.

Flight : Sled-1 (Return)
Date : 2/2/2007
Name : Vic
TCA# 2613
# Aboard: 2450 lbs cargo (30 sleds plus mushing supplies)
VFR/IFR : IFR
Aircraft: B727-200 freighter
Depart. : Kalispell KFCA
Destin. : Anchorage PANC
Dep.time: 09:22 local
Enroute : 03:59
Fuel : 24593#s
Route1 : YXC YKA B8 WL YYD 5E83 DUXAR EEF B37 SPARL A1 HBK J133 JOH
YESKA3
Speed : M 0.80
Altitude: FL380

The Cold Spot Feed representative met the aircraft and asked him if they planned a hospitality room at the Millenium, but he was noncommittal - perhaps with a little urging they will let us TCAA pilots stop by!

Vic