North Pender Island

[AOtterstrom]

I would like to fly into north Pender Island to the grass strip there and am wondering if any one has any advice. Will be in my own 150 and I have been into a few short narow grass strips. Any tips or general knowledge of the strip would be greatly apreciated. I know that it is fairly up hill and you should land after the gravel road / heli pad other than that not much. Thanks.

[North Shore]

Give Graham at VFC a call (250-656-4321) IIRC he used to go in there fairly regularly with his 140..

[c170b53]

Be careful, take a good look at it from above, one way in, once on short final you are pretty much committed to land due to the sharply rising terrain at the runways end. Don't land short there's a cement foundation hiding in the grass, just to the left side of the grass threshold. Its is narrow with water (marsh) to the left side and barns on the right. The 150 will do ok, best to stay on the grass, I've backtracked past the buildings and parked off the the R/H side (facing south) south end of the strip. A friend flew in there 3 months ago with his 182 and got a bit off the grass, the nose sunk, prop and engine overhaul now in progress. Another friend flies in there all the time in his 170, no problems. Its a nice little strip with a short walk to a restaurant in Browns harbour.

[viccoastdog]

Its a nice little strip with a short walk to a restaurant in Browns harbour.

It's Port Browning, not Browns Harbour. Broadcast intentions on 123.2 and keep an eye open for floatplanes that maybe landing or flying below around the Pender Islands.

[c170b53]

Thanks for the correction; Port Browning

[2R]

Is the strip on the north side of Saturna still usable ?

[MichaelP]

There's some good pictures of the strip on this site:

http://www.chikinhed.com/vargas/index.html

I like to be below the top of the tree that is on short final and to the left.
There's no go-around from below 400 feet or so with flaps down in most aircraft.
I like to have my mains on at the very start of the strip (don't land on the helipad!) but even if you are late the uphill slope will slow you down quick enough.
If there's more than a ten knot tailwind when landing avoid going in there for the first time.
If there's a ten knot tailwind for takeoff, don't go in a Cessna 150.
My preference is to not use any flap for takeoff in either the Cessna 150 or 152 unless the strip is soft, and only then use it when the nosewheel is out of the muck. You extend the takeoff distance and reduce the climb angle after liftoff if you use flap.

If the wind is a headwind on takeoff then all is well with the world.
In a crosswind be careful of downdrafts.

Overfly the field and look for the mower, for deer, and for geese.
I know someone who got a severe dent in his wing from a goose.

There are ruts at the top end to the left side in particular before you get to the turn around.
I usually park by the pond well clear of the strip.

There is a restaurant and an English bakery in the little shopping centre next to the strip.

[AOtterstrom]

Thanks for all the info everone, very helpful.