A Day Aboard an Air North Hawker
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Heavily-Laden Flight to Dawson City
Our very efficient ground stop at Fairbanks of only 40 minutes passed all too quickly, with only enough time to catch one Northern Air Cargo DC-6 roaring off the runway loaded to the gunnels with cargo. The throaty roar of a heavily loaded DC-6 on take-off is to be savoured, as their days are surely numbered. Again seated on the port side of the 748 abeam the engine, a clear view of Fairbanks’ well-stocked propliner compound was on offer at the far east side of the field, just before we made our turn onto runway 24 for departure.
Captain Kiriak opened the throttles to full power at 1605 (Yukon time) and we were rolling down the runway under sunny and warm conditions, with our take-off roll being a bit longer due to the heavy passenger load and the warmer air. Soon after take-off, we were tuned around and heading east towards Dawson City, and the late afternoon sun was brightly illuminating the easterly meandering Tanana River below us. Edith once again graced the cabin with here terrific Northern hospitality, and everyone was thoroughly enjoying their afternoon aboard our HS748 as we serenely cruised over the vast wilderness below.
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The flight time to Dawson City was 88 minutes and the flight was uneventful, although the weather started to deteriorate as we approached the airport. The mountain weather conditions at Dawson were again not cooperating entirely, and we landed at 1733 amidst what appeared to be torrential rains.
Once the engines were wound down at the terminal, Captain Kiriak explained that the weather was going to further deteriorate, and we would simply need to wait it out for the weather to clear. All the passengers quickly clambered down the airstairs and over to the side of the terminal building, where we had to queue to enter the terminal and clear Canadian Customs. Given the collapsing weather conditions, the Customs officer was very kind in processing us as quickly as she could. Within about five minutes, all the passengers were comfortable and dry inside the little terminal building, while outside, mother nature performed a spectacular thunder and lightening show complete with teaming sheets of rain. It all seemed to pass very quickly, and after ten or fifteen minutes, Captain Kiriak announced that we needed to board rather quickly to avail ourselves of the brief lull in the weather.
The rain had ceased altogether, and within five minutes of the Captain's announcement in the terminal building, all the passengers were on board and fastened into their seats, the rear door was closed, and we were staring engines! The downpour had eased sufficiently to allow us to get airborne at 1818, after 45 minutes stranded on the ground at Dawson City. Climbing through the murk en route back towards Whitehorse, I reflected on what a fantastic day it had been, having experienced a typical day in the life of an Air North HS748 and her very professional crew, undaunted by any challenges put before them.
Our initial delay had turned this into a very long day, particularly for the crew, and Edith faithfully made her rounds through the cabin, clearly enjoying her job, and attending to the needs of her passengers. I was the only passenger aboard who spent the entire day with the aircraft, and few other passengers probably could appreciate the hard work, professionalism and dedication of our crew in quite the same light I could. After 76 minutes in the air, we finally landed at Whitehorse at 1934 local time, with a straight in approach to runway 13R, still in daylight with the summer sun starting its decent towards the Northwest horizon. As we taxied to the terminal building, I savoured the reassuring melody of our Dart Engines, for they would soon shut down, and it would likely be some time before I’d meet their company again. We parked on the apron at the north end of the terminal building in the exact same location we left from earlier that morning.
The passengers collected their belongings and were discussing their holiday plans and evening plans as we deplaned down the 748’s folding, self-contained airstairs. Looking back at the ruggedly built under-belly of the HS748, my mind flashed back to an old, historic photo taken on January 29, 1962. The photo shows Avro test pilot Jimmy Harrison standing in the same location by the rear belly of the second prototype 748 G-ARAY, examining the ploughed up mud and stone surface at Martlesham Heath where he was to fly the 748 from, to demonstrate the type’s suitability for the RAF’s demanding needs as the Andover C.1 transport. On that day Harrison not only successfully flew two circuits with a 12,000 pound load from that muddied strip, he repeated the performance with a 15,000 pound load, to the approval of the RAF onlookers. And as the saying goes, the rest is history! Sadly, Jimmy Harrison passed away on April 16, 2007, having flown no less than 93 different types of aircraft, including no fewer than 13 prototypes.
Air North operates year round scheduled Boeing 737 services to Whitehorse from Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. Two night air and hotel packages from Vancouver to Whitehorse start at a bargain rate of only $310 CAD per person plus taxes (current as of Fall, 2006). Those interested in sampling Air North’s HS748 flights for themselves can purchase a Whitehorse-Dawson City round trip ticket with year round fares from $220 CAD plus taxes. For more information please visit Air North at www.flyairnorth.com
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Articles & photos are copyright
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