Traveling by Bush Plane in Alaska

By Lisa Maloney, author of Moon Alaska

For many residents of rural Alaska—that is, the small communities that exist off the state’s very limited road system—traveling in small planes is the only way to get from community to community.

An Alaskan bush plane readies for takeoff in a grassy field. — Bush plane taxing for takeoff on the landing strip of the historic Bremner mining camp. Photo by Jacob W. Frank courtesy of the National Park Service.

For visitors, boarding a small plane is a thrilling glimpse into another way of life or an exotic way of reaching the next adventure. Of course, the act of getting into a small plane can be either scary or exciting, because it’s so unlike any jet you’ve ever flown in. With that in mind, here are a few things you should know about traveling in bush planes or other small aircraft:

Limit your luggage. Weight and balance is a crucial matter for small planes, and the storage compartments—either to the aft or in the wings—are small, so passengers are usually allowed just one small hand-carry item (typically limited to 10 pounds. or less and small enough to fit under the seat in front of you). If you’re allowed checked luggage it will be very limited, both in size and weight. So, no big suitcases!
Expect to be weighed. This doesn’t always happen, but you should expect to be weighed, along with your luggage, before you get on any small plane. If the airline doesn’t weigh you, they will probably ask your weight and then weigh your luggage. Some tour operators and small airlines set passenger weight limits (typically around 300 to 350 pounds). If you are over this limit, you may be asked to buy more than one seat.
Expect to be separated from your luggage. Because weight and balance are so crucial in a small plane, luggage is sometimes left behind to keep the plane’s weight within safe limits. It’ll catch up to you—eventually—but that can take up to a couple of days, depending on how frequent the flights are. So always pack enough essentials into your carry-on to get by until your bags catch up. That includes clothes, toiletries, and essential medications.
Small planes are limited by weather. Most small plane flights in Alaska are limited to visual flight rules—they don’t fly on instruments alone—so they can’t take to the air when visibility is bad at the starting point or the destination. Pilots have crashed because of flying in marginal conditions so, even though it’s frustrating to have your flight delayed or cancelled, it’s a good sign that the pilot or company you’ve chosen is safety-conscious… and it’s much better than the alternative.
Alaska planes are almost always old. Nobody cares what a bush plane looks like—the important thing is that it flies. With that in mind, one of the most beloved planes for use in Alaska is the deHavilland Beaver, a rugged workhorse that’s so functional, you can actually refill the engine oil from inside the cockpit—as you’re flying! The deHavilland Beaver was first flown in 1947 and ceased commercial production in 1967. So, if you’re lucky enough to fly in one, it’ll be anywhere between 50 and 70 years old. They’re still in service because they’re still the best you can get for Alaska’s challenging flying conditions.
Check airline safety records. Some people are terrified by the prospect of flying in a small plane, and the truth is that for every Alaskan with his or her own pilot’s license and plane, there’s another who will only get into a small plane if there’s no other alternative. One of the best ways to soothe any safety concerns you have is by looking up the safety record of the airline or tour operator you’re considering on both the National Transportation Safety Board (ntsb.gov) and Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov) websites. You can also talk to the tour operators about your concerns. Don’t worry—they’re used to fielding these questions!
Some turbulence is normal. When you’re in a small plane, you’ll feel every bump or bounce of turbulence much more significantly than you would feel while flying through the same air patterns in a large plane. Don’t worry: A little bit of bouncing around is perfectly normal, especially when traveling over rugged or mountainous terrain, and for the most part your flight should still be smooth.
Bring a jacket. I always bring at least a light jacket with me on an airplane, even in the summer, because, hey, the air gets chilly up there!
Ask about the view. Most tour planes carry 6-8 passengers, depending on the configuration, and are set up so that every seat has a window to look out. They also don’t sell assigned seats: Everyone just walks onto the plane and chooses where they’ll sit. Sometimes one lucky passenger even gets to sit up front with the pilot (the cockpit is completely open, so you’ll get to watch what they’re doing even from the back). But, every once in a while you’ll see a plane where a couple of the seats, usually toward the back, don’t have a good view. If you’re concerned about this happening, talk to your tour operator beforehand.
Think ahead on airsickness. I have never been airsick on a small plane, nor have I ever seen another passenger feeling airsick, but it can happen. If you know you’re prone to getting airsick, take your motion sickness remedy of choice before getting into the plane.

Lisa Maloney

About the Author

Lisa Maloney has lived in Anchorage, Alaska since the late 1980s, and travels extensively throughout the state for work and play. Even though she lives in "the big city," Lisa thrives on the self-sufficient mentality that drives the rest of the state forward. She makes her living as a freelance writer, focused primarily on travel, the outdoors, and profiling the unique personalities that call Alaska home. She is also the author of 50 Hikes Around Anchorage and a second guidebook tentatively titled Day Hiking Southcentral Alaska. You can see more of Lisa's writing at maloneywrites.com or catch up with her latest adventures at hikingalaska.net and cometoalaska.net.

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