IFR alternates for NW Ontario

fche · Post by **fche** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:00 am

What are typical IFR alternates that people file for a trip to Thunder Bay? The only "nearby" airports seem to be on the US side, or >100nm away, with non-precision approaches only.

LostinRotation · Post by **LostinRotation** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:03 am

" Farmer Ed's corn field "

-=0=LIR=0=-

Hickory Stick · Post by **Hickory Stick** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:53 am

What do you expect? It is Northern Ontario.
I used to use Geraldton, Sioux Lookout, Dryden of Houghton (U.S.A) but only if you knew you would not need it as an alternate. It was a fuel saver on a nice day.

Cheers

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Wed May 18, 2005 9:53 am

File to some hotspot like Atikokan Frances or Rainy River and hold YQT as your alternate.

Enroute, review Atikokan's facilities, and say "Good God, there's no hangarage for uor turbo swearingen mushmonster III... we shall divert to our alternate immediately."

Center won't particularly care, they're paid by the hour, not the destination.

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Wed May 18, 2005 3:11 pm

May I suggest a more tasteful destination. YPO maybe, great burgers, hot blonde hair women, and the darn near best taxi driver/Unicom Operator/ambulance driver/chef/hunting guide/traffic cop/reserve chief/ and much, much more..........See ya there.

NOW

Dockjock · Post by **Dockjock** » Wed May 18, 2005 7:10 pm

Houghton, MI.
But just make sure you don't actually have to go there. Did that once, landed at 5am not a sole in sight at the entire place. Phoned customs, cleared by phone and left once the fog lifted(!) Not that I expect that to happen more than once oh and yes that was pre 9/11.

Sulako · Post by **Sulako** » Thu May 19, 2005 4:15 am

just curious wrote:File to some hotspot like Atikokan Frances or Rainy River and hold YQT as your alternate.

Enroute, review Atikokan's facilities, and say "Good God, there's no hangarage for uor turbo swearingen mushmonster III... we shall divert to our alternate immediately."

Center won't particularly care, they're paid by the hour, not the destination.

I wouldn't be doing that. What if the weather at YQT goes down and you arrive there sucking gas fumes?

Now you have already given up a legal alternate, something I have been grateful to have more than once in my flying career.

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:40 am

Now you have already given up a legal alternate, something I have been grateful to have more than once in my flying career.

Well, this is as bad as it's going to get today, so hey... borrow one of mine!

CYRB 191317Z 04020KT 2SM -SN BLSN FEW015 OVC022 RMK SC2SC6

Don't use it as an alternate for Thunder though.