Northern valley air services and how they compare

There are many air services operating out of the northern Susitna Valley, and trying to select the right company for your specific flight needs can sometimes be confusing. While prices are often very similar for like services, equipment used and pilot experience can vary greatly between companies. Each service seems to have its own specialty area, focusing on support for Bush residents, climbers, tourists or hunting and fishing groups.

Some companies can accommodate large groups, some specialize in smaller ones.

Whether you are scheduling a fall hunt, a weekend getaway or a flightseeing tour for your out-of-town guests, the information below, provided by a few of the companies in the northern valley, may help you choose the best service for your needs.

Denali Flying Service

Phone: 495-5899

Web site: www.denaliflying.com

E-mail: fly@denaliflying.com

Location: Based at Willow Airport

Specialty: Bush support

"We support the lodges and the people who live out there, flying cargo and fuel to remote properties, and flying the residents in for doctor's appointments and grocery shopping," said Kirsten Stanley, who owns the service along with her husband and pilot, Barry Stanley.

Flights offered/price ranges: Local flightseeing tours start at $39 per person, Denali flights are $165, and Iditarod Trail tours are $175. Other services are billed by the hour.

Most popular flights are the Knik Glacier and Mount McKinley tours.

Brief history of the company: The couple started the business in 1997 from the Willow Airport. Just the couple, no additional staff. Stanley has been a Bush pilot for nearly 20 years.

Type of aircraft available: One Maule on tundra tires in summer and wheel skis in winter, and a Cessna 206 on tundra tires in the summer and straight skis in the winter.

What makes your service unique? The Stanleys lived at Rainy Pass Lodge on Puntilla Lake for eight years, and Hayes River Lodge at Finger Lake for four years before starting Denali Flying Service. Their Bush living experience is valuable to their local customers.

"It gives us a unique perspective on bush clients and their lifestyle," Stanley said. In the winter, Kirsten Stanley also provides expediting services to select clients, shopping for them with the experience of someone who has lived in the bush.

Another unique service is that because they are based in Willow, the Stanleys can fly in the other direction when north is not flyable. "We can go over Knik Glacier if the McKinley has bad weather."

Hudson Air Service Inc.

Phone: 733-2321 or 1-800-478-2321

Web site: www.hudsonair.com

E-mail: Hudson@mtaonline.net

Location: Based at Talkeetna Airport

Specialty: Lifeline to Bush Alaska, Hudson has flown homesteaders and gold miners to remote properties since 1946. Hudson also specializes in climber support and assists the National Parks Service with mountain rescue operations in addition to offering flightseeing tours.

Flights available/price ranges: Flightseeing tours begin at $135 per person. Grand tour of Mount McKinley is 1.5 hours and costs $190 per person. Add a glacier landing to any McKinley tour for an additional $60 per person. Climber drop and pickup service available for $300. One hour wildlife viewing tour for $110 per person. Also charter service available to remote lodges and historic gold mines, with overnight accommodations available.

Brief history of the company: Talkeetna's oldest and most experienced air service, flying since 1946. Cliff Hudson ran the business from 1948 until he retired a few years ago, now son Jay Hudson is the director of operations with a staff of eight to 10 employees.

Type of aircraft available: Three turbocharged, oxygen-equipped Cessna 206s and a Cessna 185, all on wheel skis. Each passenger has a window seat and headphones to talk to their pilot.

Services that make your company unique? Most experienced service with most knowledge of the northern Susitna area and the Alaska Range. Participated in many mountain rescue missions. Years of experience in glacier landings. Smaller company can give more personal service.

K2 Aviation

Phone: 733-2291 or 1-800-764-2291

Web site: www.flyk2.com

E-mail: info@flyk2.com

Location: Based at Talkeetna Airport

Specialty: flightseeing, climber support and aircraft support

Flights offered/price ranges: Several flightseeing tours available ranging in price from $140 to $260 per person.

Most popular flight: "On a clear day, our most popular flight is the Grand Tour with a glacier landing," said Kristy Kingery, office manager.

Brief history of the company: Been in operation since the 1970s; previous owners include Jim Okonek, who purchased the company in the early 1980s and expanded and grew the business. Rust's Flying Service purchased the company in the mid-1990s. The company has 10 pilots as well as office employees and their own maintenance staff on premises.

"The Rusts are innovative thinkers. They have added aircraft and continued to build the business," Kingery said.

Type of aircraft available: Two turbine Otters, which Kingery said "do wonderfully on the mountain, cutting down on noise and the number of trips we make, benefiting both the mountain and the company." They also fly two Beavers, two 185s, a Navajo and a Cherokee. They offer aircraft with both skis and wheels, and float plane service is available through Rust's.

What makes your service unique? "We can accommodate the larger groups with 10 seats in the Otters," Kingery said. K2 does a lot of work for outfits like National Geographic, ESPN and the Outdoor Channel. Because they are owned by Rust's, they have aircraft available that can fly all over the state.

Talkeetna Air Taxi

Phone: 733-2218 or 1-800-533-2219

Web site: www.talkeetnaair.com

E-mail: info@talkeetnaair.com

Location: Based at Talkeetna Airport

Specialty: Glacier landings on Mount McKinley

Flights offered/price ranges: Several different tours to choose from. Prices range from $135-$255 per person. Most popular flight is the Grand Denali tour with glacier landing, two hours long.

"People want to see the whole mountain," said manager Sandra White.

Brief history of the company: Current owner Paul Roderick bought the company in 1996, but ownership goes back to the late 1940s with past owners being some of the biggest names in Talkeetna aviation history. Currently, Talkeetna Air has 30 employees, including two full-time mechanics and 10-12 pilots, and customer service staff.

Type of aircraft available: Three DHC-2 DeHavilland Beavers, two Cessna 185s, all equipped with hydraulic wheel skis.

"Everyone gets a window seat and a headset linking them to the pilot, who is the tour narrator. They can talk among themselves," White said, "and also to the pilot."

What makes your service unique? "We specialize in making it a personal experience," White said. "We work really hard for that and we are gaining a strong reputation for providing it. We get excellent feedback from the customers and the community. I grew up in Talkeetna, along with many of the staff here. We are all about loving the mountain, and sharing that love with people who fly with us. We cater to small groups, locals, and independent travelers."

Willow Air Service

Phone: 495-6370 or 1-800-478-6370

Web site: www.willowair.com

E-mail: willowair@gci.net

Location: Based at Willow Lake (across from Willow Airport)

Specialty: Fishing and hunting trips, freight hauls, flightseeing, raft trips and cabin rentals

"We specialize in flying out to a specific, secluded fishing spot, it's a fly-fisherman's stream, said Gwen White, one of the flight service owners. "It's a nice, secluded stream with a cabin available."

Flights available/price range: Scenic flights start at $49 per person, drop-off fishing is available for $120 per person. Plenty of other services available at various prices.

Brief history of the company: Willow Air has been in business for more than 25 years, with current owners operating the business since 1997. Family owned and operated with a staff of seven employees including three pilots.

Type of aircraft available: A DeHavilland Beaver and a Cessna 185, each available with skis, wheels or floats.

Services that make your company unique? "We are mainly a float plane service," White said. "Our focus is on remote cabin rentals, fishing and hunting trips. We also offer remote moose hunt drop-offs. And our pilots have primarily flown in Alaska, with many hours of experience."