Meet our sister company! We are not able to provide glacier landings in the winter. Twice before, four people have died in plane crashes near America's tallest peak. And it has been posted for years that Talkeetna Aero does all the summit flights, when booked with Talkeenta Air Taxi. Are you saying with the rebooking, unless you booked another 7pm tour, they would not give you the toursaver discount??? Williams is being assisted in his investigation byFederal Aviation Administration staffers in Wasilla and Washington, D.C., as well as K2 Aviation. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. The plane was fractured behind the trailing edge of the wings, Williamswrote. You won't find a friendlier, more informative bunch of "Right Stuff"-ers anywhere this side of NASA. Denali, Mt. ~Stephanie. Flight operators will determine if conditions are safe for flying, and if not, they will try and reschedule. I noticed they advertise 3 flights. Overwhelmed by choices? Will definitely be coming back to Talkeetna to experience again! K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeeta Aero Service K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeeta Aero Service for McKinley air tour. K2 Cares! K2 is the best of the best or just the summit flights in general are the best of the best? Denali? Many guests request the co-pilot seat;the pilot places passengers in particular seats to balance the airplane, and it is their decision. The thing to look for in your itinerary is WHICH Princess Wilderness Lodge you'll be staying at because there's more than one. Attractive facilities, friendly people, and efficient registration and check-in process. Flying in Alaska is tricky, according to the Alaska chief for the NTSB, Clint Johnson. Sunglasses, long pants & closed toe shoes are always recommended. Maybe Marriott Gold? In 2003, a McKinley Air Service air taxi from Talkeetna crashed near Denali, killing all on board two climbers, a tourist and the pilot. Safety is a big concern, so I don't want to save a few bucks if it will compromised safety issues. Theplaneleft Talkeetna's airport just after 5 p.m. Aug. 4 and crashed an hour later, authorities said. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Bring long pants, closed toe shoes, sunglasses, cameras with extra batteries and memory cards. I will be in Talkeetna/Fairbanks by 2016-Dec 28th-Jan2nd , is your glacier landing available through these dates, besides weather dependency?? The pilot did a great job of stay below the clouds so that we could see the sharp cliffs and massive glaciers. Space fills up quick (and we got damn lucky). One federal official called the latest disaster the worst in history for civilian aviation in Denali National Park. Its official name used to be McKinley, but in recent years has been changed back to its original Alaskan name, Denali. I was planning on taking the 7pm flightseeing then driving to Anchorage afterward but our flight got canceled due to weather. Hello K2 princess Lodge in Talkeetna v Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, where to stop between Seward and Talkeetna. The Grand Denali with Glacier Landing tour goes all the way around Denali so that you can see both the south and north sides of the mountain, as well as the Wickersham wallone of the highest vertical rises on the planet. East 2nd Street, 14052 Hello! We're out of luck and about out of time.It's a horrible sight to see a grown man cry. "Then finally it went through.". Apparently K2 hadnt flown in weeks. This flight encompasses the south, east & west faces of Denali, winding through the three major peaks: Denali, Foraker, and Hunter and the climber base camp. And it has been posted for years that Talkeetna Aero does all the summit flights, when booked with Talkeenta Air Taxi. Why only 4 stars? Every half hour: The Talkeetna Alaska Lodge Shuttle picks up guests at the parking lot next to Mahays, just across the railroad tracks from our office(same place you would be dropped off). You really must do your own research based on your interests and plans, and then decide which if any is "best" for you. Foraker tower above the other , See Denali from all sides during your flight - North, South, East & West. I have gone with Talkeetna Aero the most. If you don't make any stops, it should take approx. If you made it to the 49th state, one thing you must set aside is time to see Denali from the air! Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Presumably the longer the flight, the better. Founded in 1980, K2 Aviation offers flying opportunities for climbers and sightseers in Talkeetna in Alaska. We fly over snow and ice, which do not produce the heat thermals that can cause turbulence. **You can bring your child on our lower altitude flights, but not on the Summit Tour due to high altitudes** It was cloudy (as usual) so we were thinking that our trip might be a bummer, but boy were we wrong! If you use the Lodge shuttle, it drops you off within a five minute walk from our office. Thanks. Our most popular tour, featuring stunning views of the 45-mile-long Kahiltna Glacier. "No further information was received before the connection was once again lost.". PALMER The pilot of a K2 Aviation flightseeing plane that crashed near Denali in early August lived long enough to report two possible fatalities before communications ceased, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report released Thursday. Powered by Invision Community. I did the ski plane with Talkeetna Air Taxi and my favorite routing - a summit flight with K2. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. I haven't done a helicopter landing on a glacier (although I hiked on one) or a Mt. K2 Aviation or Talkeetna Air Taxi are the two companies I'd recommend. They accommodated a date change for our scheduled tour due to low visibility - incredible customer service. K2 Aviation is a National Park Service approved concessionaire with an excellent safety record. K2 Aviation has a long history of flying in Alaska;Were owned and operated by the Rust family, whohavebeen flying Alaskas back country since 1963. K2 AVIATION - 101 Photos & 85 Reviews - 14052 E 2nd St, Talkeetna, AK - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services K2 Aviation 85 reviews Claimed Tours, Travel Services Edit Closed 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM See hours See all 102 photos Write a review Add photo small plane Location & Hours 14052 E 2nd St Talkeetna, AK 99676 Serving Talkeetna Area We plan to be in Talkeetna mid-July, but plan on the Hurricane Turn this visit. See what family means to us. If you had the option to await better weather, it would be worth it. You should bring a heavier coat, gloves or mittens, a hat, boots, and sunglasses. :). How safe is flightseeing? Hunter and Mt. Its really important to note that the weather is a huge constraint on this activity. More important- again only my opinion is to see the entire area and all the scenic flying that is available, reason why my always preference are the summit flights. However, visibility from every seat is excellent and everyone gets a window seat. Now I know not to trust a forecast until you get close to the date and Denali is a big place and had different weather throughout. We will be glad to return you to your lodge or take you into to town following your flight. We did the glacier landing with Talkeetna Air Taxi and thought it was wonderful. Also, Talkeetna Air Taxi is the only approved glacier landing concessionaire with its own state-of-the-art Flight Simulator. Locally known as The Glacier Landing Company, TAT has been flying climbers and sightseers to the Alaska Rangeand. Are your planes cabin pressurized and maintain a certain oxygen level? The plane came to rest in a crevasse at almost 11,000 feet altitude, high on a knife-edge ridge of Thunder Mountain about 14 miles from Denali's summit. The weeks leading up to our trip bad weather was in the forecast. Not counting the five people who are confirmed or presumed dead from this weekends plane crash on a sharp, tall ridge in Denali National Park, 10 of the sightseeing victims died in foggy Southeast Alaska, according to records provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. I hope to see you in February. We also provide rescheduling options if your travel plans permit. We get calls from time to time, calling our main number, wanting to know whos a safe operator. Voting Is Now Open for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards! Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them! This is what the e-mail from the company said: "You must have 4 people to receive the 25% discount and the flight times are 8:30am to 1pm and 6pm to 7pm blackout is from 1pm to 5pm. Customers know our reputation and learn about our commitment to safety from word of mouth from past guests of K2 Aviation, Rust said in the statement. If the weather's good you just can't beat the experience. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com. Talkeetna Air Taxi 2018-2023 All right reserved |. If you are on foot, there are restaurants located a short walk into town. When you check in for your flightseeing tour, we will give a briefing on visibility and current conditions. We had the time of our lives! Our aircraft are not pressurized. I call TAT back, but their entire morning schedule is committed to taking up climbers that they were unable to get up the day before, and they can't possibly get us up and back before we have to leave. McKinley - especially since one member of our party will be waiting for us while another friend and I fly. Our pilot was friendly and explained everything to us clearly. The entire experience from the drive to/from Talkeetna to the flight and views were outstanding. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks, Denali (McKinley) Flightseeing Tours: Anchorage vs Talkeetna vs Denali National Park. Follow the river systems of Talkeetna Free cancellation Recommended by 100% of travellers from HK$2,779.02 per adult Reserve Winter Explorer Flight-seeing Tour from Talkeetna 14 By Talkeetna Air Taxi }); 1-800-764-2291 When the summit cannot easily be seen, K2 pilots may alter the flight route if they feel they can provide a better tour byvisiting other parts of the Alaska Range. Follow along with the bouncing ball, kids, as our tale unfolds: Pre-booked directly with TAT about a month before leaving for Alaska. Within 10 minutes, the concierge (who is now a viable candidate for sainthood if she performs just TWO more miracles) called us and set to get readyshe got seats for 4 of us with K2 Aviation at 8:30, and we'd be back in time to make our bus. See all sides of The Great One. East 2nd Street, 14052 K2 Aviation provided an educational tour with beautiful views of Denali. I would recommend them easily for a wonderful flightseeing tour. The sooner you make a reservation the more likely we will have the tour and time available that suits your travel plans. Give us an hour, we'll give you the world! We offer discounts for: Alaska residents, groups of 4 or more, military (active and inactive), and seniors 62 and older. Hats off, and sincere thanks to the crews at both K2 AND TAT. Rescheduling does not work for travelers who have tight vacation schedules, so we recommend keeping the date you wish to take a flightseeing tour flexible. Which one is right for you? The total trip time is 2 hours. McKinley and the nearby mountains would be a more awesome experience than a helicopter landing on Mendenhall Glacier - or any other glacier in the Juneau Icefield. If you are prone to motion sickness, you should take whatever measures you normally take to combat it. But we took the Grand Denali Tour with glacier landing with Talkeetna Air Taxi and thought they were very professional. Is there any advantage of one over the other? Fast forward to the following morning. jQuery(document).ready(function($){ Last year it was good for their 7:00 p.m. flight. In order to arrive 30 minutes before flight time, you should plan on taking a shuttle departing 1 hour and 30 minutes before your scheduled flight time. You can also send us an e-mail to clarify any questions you may have: info@talkeetnaair.com. FAQ - K2 Aviation About K2 FAQ Why fly K2? Also, it looks like it will take about two hours to drive to Talkeetna from Anchorage. Aug. 4, 2018. Thank you for choosing K2 for your adventure! This includesholidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Were glad you asked. We look forward to seeing you in Talkeetna. Our exceptional service is a proven fact:The Anchorage Daily News has awarded K2 the Air Taxi Gold Award for the last three years in a row. It is then your decision whether to fly or not to fly. Nothing compares with the sight of seeing the biggest rock on the North American continent up close and personal. Stired has been on the Grand Denali with Glacier Landing and NancyIL is going to be doing the Base Camp Tour. We try to seat couples and families side-by-side as much as possible. The ski plane will be all snow- I have plenty of that right now in New York. (Photo provided by NPS). 2022 Anchorage Daily News. May 2010 we used a coupon on Talkeetna Air Taxi. K2 Aviation operates several different types of aircraft, which include the Cessna 185 (4 passengers), the DeHavilland Beaver (6-7 passengers), the DeHavilland Turbine Otter (10 passengers), the Piper Chieftain Twin Engine (9 passengers), and the Cherokee Six (5 passengers). The maps on their web sites look similar. The Talkeetna Alaska Lodge has a shuttle that runs every 30 minutes. Fax: 907-733-1221, K2 Cares! Summer Hours 7:00 am - 9:00 pm Winter Hours 9:00 am - 4:00 pm . (Selling) B3G1 FREE on all of my close to a thousand movies! Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. All rights reserved. Our highest flying tour, see Denali from up to 20,000 feet, this bird's eye view is incredible! :). If the weather is not flyable, it is very difficult to arrange a last minute van transport from Talkeetna to Kantishna. Credit maytake up to six weeks to appear on your statement. Children 11 years of age and under receive a 30% discount, and children 23 months and under are considered a lap child and fly for free. Talkeetna, Alaska Air Service K2 Aviation and Rust's Flying Service Promo Video Watch on With K2 Aviation, a flightseeing trip over Denali National Park and Preserve will give you a bird's-eye view of its incredible vastness and awesome beauty. The call came to K2's main operations number, lead NTSB investigator Shaun Williams said Thursday. Stired, Do you think the Grand Denali Tour at $340 pp for the extra half hour is worth the extra price (as compared to $265 pp)? Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. On the other hand, Talkeetna Aero Service has a two-for-one coupon. We are open 9-4 daily in the winter months, 800-764-2291. If the weather prevents you from flightseeing, we will give you options that include cancelling, rescheduling, or receiving a full refund of your deposit. Walked over to their shop in town at about 1pm and spoke with Chris, who explained that the weather on the mountain was less than optimum for flightseeing so far that day, and showed us a current computer graphic of the weather system to illustrate the point. 907-733-2291 K2 Aviation offers once-in-a-lifetime flightseeing tours among and above the Alaska Range. K2 and Talkeeta Air Taxi appear to be around longer and more popular. Of course, it's well known among the services there what's going on but they may not be too forthcoming. I have oxygen saturation problems, using a portable oxygen concentrator. LauraS I excitedly accepted and was on my way. Denali is like a box of chocolates, Forrest. Our top priority in Talkeetna was flightseeing over Mt. Can I sit in the co-pilot seat? The front seat is most definitely the best view but they navigate the plane in a way where everyone gets a chance to see everything. If you are staying at MT MCKINLEY Princess Wilderness Lodge, the answer is YES! The K2 Aviation airplane will not be removed from the crash site on Thunder Mountain. The fragmented aircraft remains perched on a hanging glacier on the north side of Thunder Mountain. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. We look forward to seeing you in Talkeetna. the lodge has motor coaches that come to Talkeetna about every hour and the ride is about 45 minutes. Foraker tower above the other Free cancellation Recommended by 98% of travelers from $367.00 per adult Reserve Denali Grand Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna 185 By K2 Aviation Air Tours 2-3 hours 24.5k Followers, 207 Following, 1,445 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Talkeetna Air Taxi (@talkeetnaair) talkeetnaair. Both K2 and Talkeetna Air Taxi (TAT) get my highest recommendation. Aviation in Alaska, obviously, there are some challenges that maybe the rest of the Lower 48 doesnt have, Johnson said. K2 and Talkeeta Air Taxi appear to be around longer and more popular. I have flown with both companies. Advance notice is helpful, as winter flights require more preparation time. Denali creates its own weather environment, and it can change from flight to flight. Alaska - K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeeta Aero Service - K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Taxi or Talkeeta Aero Service for McKinley air tour. Fill in your favorite superlatives. View historic climbing routes and Denali's many glaciers. End point ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-39980719', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane can land on a glacier? Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. We alsooffer complimentary coffee. Here is how we make it a great experience for K2 Guests. Is there any place to eat at the airport? Our office hours are from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm. Yes. We booked with Talkeetna Air Taxi for the Grand Denali tour with Glacier Landing. We also joined the 20% club, meaning only 20% of people who visit see the three peaks at once. Is there transportation available to get to and from your location? As far as I know, there is no helicopter flightseeing over the Alaska range to Mt. The best of the best in my opinion, having done all that is listed above- probably 10-12 McKinley flights over close to 10 years. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. However, flightseeing is spectacular and I highly recommend it. Both companies are highly respected in the aviation industry of Alaska. I, too, took a glacier flight on Talkeetna Air Taxi. Are there specific companies or locations that use helicopters vs ski planes? Mountainous terrain, inclement weather conditions, both of those combined together make it much more challenging in Alaska.. If this is going to be a once in a lifetime trip, either the Mountain Voyager with Glacier Landing or the Grand Denali with Glacier Landing are recommended. Our pilots make every tour unique by showing you the best currently available views, lighting and scenery while always keeping safety as the number one priority. You will enter an. If you are staying at DENALI Princess Wilderness Lodge, you are hours away from Talkeetna and K2 and there is no transportation available. And with two opposing systems on either side of the Alaska Range the actual weather can change hourly. K2 made our experience super relaxing and stress free. Trust me. The Northern Lights coupon for Talkeetna Air taxi says Morning and Evening flights..it is 25% off. The pilot contacted K2 Aviation via satellite phone at 7:00 pm to report his situation and request help. 70 reviews of Talkeetna Air Taxi "On a lazy Sunday I was walking into the various artisan shops around Talkeetna and commented that it would be a nice day to go on a Denali flight tour. K2Aviation i. The winter season (October April) office hours daily from 9:00 am 3:00 pm. I ended up with 4 rebookings with them in 2005, over 3 different days and only the orginal being the 7pm timeframe. Follow along with the bouncing ball, kids, as our tale unfolds: Denali National Park Flightseeing Tour from Talkeetna. FLIGHTSEEING FAQ - Talkeetna Air Taxi Flightseeing FAQ Flightseeing Frequently Asked Questions Questions you might have before booking. The National Park Service high-altitude helicopter headed for the coordinates transmitted from the downed plane just after 8 p.m. but couldn't reach the site, the report says. I hope this answers your question and hope to see you this summer. :). Planning on climbing in the Alaska Range? Travel4life31 - I gather your sarcasism is directed at me. There is no water at Ruth Glacier. The company organizes the flightseeing tours of Denali National Park and the Alaska Range. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-39972022', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight you are considering?? Flight times run approximately Winter season (Nov 1st to April 30th)One departure daily at (approximately) 12:00 p.m. During the winter season, we are unable to offer discounts. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Anybody taken the Talkeetna River Float Trip before? Experience the wonders of Alaska and Denali National Park, and gain a new appreciation for our state's size and rugged beauty. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. We provide overboots for glacier landings. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. But in my IMHO you can not go wrong. If you have any chance to take this trip - DO IT! If it's called "flightseeing" should I assume it's a ski plane and not a helicopter? All are long standing well run companies. Besides the amazing views from above, we made a smooth landing on a glacier where we were able to deplane and snap some awesome photos! Flight times run approximately Summer season 2021 (May 1st to Sept 1st)8:30 am (first flight of the day)11:00 am1:30pm4:00 pm (last flight of the day), Flight times run approximately Shoulder season: Part I (till Sept 15th)9:00 am (first flight of the day)11:30 am2:00 pm 4:00 pm (last flight of the day), Flight times run approximately Shoulder season: Part II (Sept 16th to Sept 30th)10:00 am (first flight of the day)12:30 pm3:00 pm (last flight of the day), Flight times run approximately Shoulder season: Part III (Oct 1st to Oct 31st)12:00 pm (first flight of the day)3:00 pm (last flight of the day). If your flight is cancelled because of weather, your deposit will be refunded. It is luck of the draw but the pilot was saying our flight was certainly the best that day. K2 Aviation also offers snowshoes and sleds on a rental basis. If you would like to add a glacier landing it is an extra $85 each, but is definitely worth it! The right wing came to rest several hundred feet below the main wreckage. . Here are some records, Man charged in 1994 sexual abuse cold case, Fairview neighborhood to receive $537K in federal grant to reconnect community. K2 Aviation (Talkeetna) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go, Hotels near Talkeetna Historical Society Museum, Hotels near Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station, Hotels near Alaskan War Veterans Memorial, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Talkeetna, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Talkeetna, Public Transportation Systems in Talkeetna, Italy and Switzerland Day Trip: Lake Como, Bellagio & Lugano from Milan, Galveston's Haunted Cemetery Walking Tour, Edinburgh walking tasting tour with SecretFoodTours, Guided Full-Day Tour to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. Passengers have had good luck with Seaband Bracelets, ginger products, and Dramamine. The fuselage was "splayed open with blown, packed snow inside.". Bring a light jacket and wear long pants. United States. But over the current decade in Denali and Talkeetna before last weekend, there were no fatalities and only one serious injury in flightseeing operations. ~Stephanie. 1,445 posts. It isn't very convenient to go on a 7 p.m. flight from Talkeetna unless you plan on spending the night there. Departing Princess to Talkeetna: 7 am to 5 pm, every hour on the hour. East 2nd Street, Park Connection at Alaska Tour and Travel, Fly from Anchorage via floatplane or wheel plane contact us at K2 Aviation. I feel for them this is a tough business with Covid and the weather not to be able to generate revenue. Look. Angels exist. Would one be superior over the others? One federal official called the latest disaster the worst in history for civilian aviation in Denali National Park.
