Hope Bay, Nunavut Info

[Pilatusable]

Hello,

Does anyone have any info on the Hope Bay airport in Nunavut? I got the coordinates and that it's 3000' gravel out of a Wikipedia search, but can't find any info on condition, fuel or parking. I can't get the search function on here to search for Hope and Bay simultaneously...I end up getting 14,000+ results for "hope" or "bay" no matter what I do!

Thanks!

[Pilatusable]

Sorry, I looked in a fairly recent copy of it but not the most current. Is it a new airport? I'll track down a new copy and have a look. Thanks!

[NJ]

CHB3 Airport

[gabo]

The runway was completed a little over a year ago and is a private strip built by Hope Bay Mining. Prior permission would most certainly be required to go there and in order to get it, you would have to have a good reason to be there as im sure the mine doesn't want people just wandering around their site (The only other planes that they ever let land there are ones working on a government reclaimation project just a few miles to the north).

As for fuel you would have to go to YCB or bring your own, all the fuel at site is for all the helicopters that seem to operate nonstop out of there and i doubt they would have any to send your way unless its an emergency.

If you do get permission to go there the runway is in excellent shape,runway 01-19, 3000'x75'. If its your first time in there though make sure the weather is good as doris mountain sits just off the east side on the approach to 01 and there are a bunch of ridges about 1500' high just to the north. Also make sure the winds aren't to strong of a crosswind because the runway is elevated at least 10'-15' and would destroy any plane that went off the side

Also be sure to be talking to them on 122.8 before landing as there are lots of helicopters and twin otters going in and out of there all the time and to give them a chance to close the strip to all the traffic since the runway doubles as a road

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBEFYFC1hfs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoCH7PeihJ4

[Pilatusable]

Thanks for the info. It would be for a survey job with an Apache...not sure if it's specifically for the mine or for someone else, so permission may or may not be an issue.

I see YCB has 100LL only in drums so that'll add some extra consideration. Also thanks for the heads up on the hills and runway. I'll make sure the weather is good and wind is light before attempting anything up there.

[just curious]

Fuel is going to be a huge issue for you once you get north of Yellowknife in the Kitikmeot (Central Arctic)

[Pilatusable]

Thanks. I kind of figured it would be. I'll be doing some serious calling around before I even think about heading in that direction. Does anyone on here know the status of the 100LL drums in YCB? I assume they only get a shipment or two of it a year and once it's gone, it's gone. Thanks again for the input!

[gabo]

definatly call ahead, The barge usually gets in around mid september so its nearing 11 months since they have had a fuel shipment, and try getting there mon to fri between 8-5, there is a $157.50 call out fee if you show up outside of those hours.

[Pilatusable]

Haha, it would have to be pretty much the farthest time away from a fuel shipment. Ok, I'll make some calls tomorrow. This sounds like it'll be logistically impossible, or at least horribly non-practical. Thanks again!

[all_ramped_up]

100LL isn't common at all up in the Arctic.

deff do your research before taking a piston for a jaunt up that way.

[rigpiggy]

I did a survey north of Sachs Harbour years back, had to shuttle fuel from inuvik-sachs-mould we spent 8hrs flying fuel for every hour on patrol.

[just curious]

Those 402's and 310's?

[Pilatusable]

How about Ulu strip? Sound familiar to anyone?

[husky]

Who is looking to have the survey work done?

Seriously, some of the questions on here make you scratch your head.

The company that wants the survey work done can SURELY take care of the logistics required to bring in appropriate fuel to a suitable location if it's unavailable.

[DHC5]

You DEFINITELY need prior authorization before even thinking of touching down on that runway at Doris. I worked as flight controller there, and you have to have auth from the mine owner before touching down.
What aircraft will you be flying? As the ramps at either end of the strip have very limited space to accomodate the DHT, D0228, DH8, DH7 or DHC5 and with the exception of the DO228 and DHT, only 1 larger aircraft is permitted on the strip at anyone time.