Heading for Ungava

[sheephunter]

Getting ready to leave for the Ungava area Mon. or Tues. Likely through Matagami but might try Lebel-Sur-Quevillon as I haven't been there before. Just waiting to contact the airport (CSH4) to see about fuel (nothing listed) or the Marina or comments. Don't have my CFS water handy. Seems everyone there is sleeping this morning. Been through Amos which I enjoyed last fall but it's a little offtrack to the SE. Better choice for when I come home in the fall. Matagami (CYNM) is my best option but the airport is so far out of town if I decide to stay the night. Is it pronounced Ma-tag-ami or Mata-gami?? Any other suggestions? Dor Val is straight on my track but again a little south same with Rouyn-Noranda. This is my sixth trip and trying to vary it up a bit with different stops but they all end up with my last fueling at the LG-4 floatbase and then on to camp, 324 sm nne. Total trip is 953 sm. Wish there was one stop in the middle. Thanks for any input.

[ruddersup?]

Sheephunter, give me the co-ordinates of your camp, would like to look it up on google earth. Have a good trip, good hunting and sure hope the bird continues to prrrrrr.

[Siddley Hawker]

Ma-tag-ami

Worked for me.
Isn't there a seaplane base on the river there somewhere? Rudderbug will know.

[sheephunter]

There is/or was. However, the first time in I stopped there I had to get a drum brought down from the same guys that look after the airport fuel. They were great, brought a barrel, geni & pump but as far as I know there is nothing operating there as of right now unless it has changed since the last 4-5 years. Don't like tying down on a river for the night if there is no one around or known to be around. Nice town once you actually get there. I could tie down in town at that none operating float base and then fly to the airport in the morning for fuel. Wouldn't be too bad if no one messed with the plane. Might be worth consideration.

[Siddley Hawker]

It's been quite a while since I've been there, but the seaplane base sold avgas back then. I think it was Brochu Air Services had the base. Last time I was there was with a DC-3 on skis, back when the James Bay Hydro project was starting up.

[sheephunter]

So it was you that made that big puddle of water up there? Anyway, if anyone cares or is interested http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... gSvq4Tdl3R is my SPOT. The weather is looking pretty good for tomorrow departure. We'll see what morning brings. It would be nice to get all the way, but I'd settle for LG-4 and continue up on Tues. a.m. See you all again in Oct.

[Siddley Hawker]

Have a good fall sh. Gonna hunt a few caribou and catch a few char?

[Rudder Bug]

Hi Sheep,

You are more than welcome in my place tomorrow. I can get you a safe place for your aircraft overnight. I am in Mont-Tremblant (CYFJ), 10 mins drive from Air Mont-Laurier's base. These guys can also provide you with the accommodation in LG-4 as well.

My wife's cousin, Lynn, is in charge of the Air Saguenay base in Lake Pau (Caniapisco). You'll be well looked after there too.

Let me know and I'll come get you at the dock, or make some phone calls for you along your route.

Gilles

[Siddley Hawker]

RB is the seaplane base still active at Lac Ouimet, just down the road from Grey Rocks?

[Rudder Bug]

RB is the seaplane base still active at Lac Ouimet, just down the road from Grey Rocks?

I think it got shut down a few years ago, when Tremblant began booming with the Hollywood big guns buying real estate all over the place. They apparently didn't enjoy the noisy two-blade seaplanes doing 15 mins sightseeings all day long.

However, Air Mont-Laurier is still up and running at their Lac Tiberiade base. They bought all of the Cargair's bush outfits in Parent and LG-4.

Lac Ouimet is now history. I remember playing in Wheeler's Canso and Dornier at their airstrip (which is still there) when I was a kid.

RB

[Siddley Hawker]

That Canso must have been their last one DFB. It went to Austin, then the Newfie Government made a water bomber out of it. It's parked at either Botwood or Gander as a museum piece. Wheeler had three of those Doinks, WAL, WAM and WAN. WAN and WAL were in accidents and Bill Gallichon rebuilt WAN out of the two after Northern Wings bought Wheeler.

Where's the airport at Tremblant, is it the old strip at La Macaza? Was Rollie .. the engineer at the strip there, and was Leo Labrosse still working on the dock?

Sorry to 7500 your thread there sheephunter.

[sheephunter]

Rudder, thanks for the offer. I pm'd you before I read this. I'd have to get a fair bit off course from here in HUntsville, Ont. to end up that far east. I am quite likely to stay at LG-4 if the weather is acting up. Norman and his crew are real nice people and provide good meals and clean, comfortable accomadations for more than reasonable "northern" rates. Would be nice to make it all the way, but it's a long day if the weather is crap and it makes for a nice 3 hr. flight the next morning. I will keep your number though, never know where a guy might end up one day. Spoke with Sammy the other day. He's been in Kuujjuaq for a while now and says the show is already starting. Hmmm. Might make for an interesting season. What have you been up to? Talk to you again in Oct.

[sheephunter]

Oh yeah, Siddley. Yes, I'll be chasing caribou, catching char, thrashing trout, shakin' hands, kissin' babies and whatever else it takes to survive these days all while trying to keep the shiney side up. Gotta love it. Will be nice to escape this heat again. Be back on in Oct. Everyone have a safe season and take care.

[Rudder Bug]

You've got a PM Sheep but you are likely to read it when in LG4 tonight. Please pass over to Sammy our best regards.

(our = Louise & Capt. Numbnuts ).

Unfortunately, we won't be chasing the cariboo nor trashing trout this year. Sammy is currently shutting down and selling everything. So bad!!!

I am now free lance - but not for free -, ferrying aircraft and training guys on floats, skis, tail draggers, etc. No more full time gig, away from home for me. I leave it to the young bucks!

Fly safe and have a good time out there you lucky bastard!

Gilles

[sheephunter]

Made it all the way last Monday with a delay due to fog/rain to the trees 120 sm s of LG4. Sat. down for about 2 hrs. or so and it cleared up nicely. When I got to LG-4 they said it was clear but blowing hard there while I was sitting in the soup on some river. Headed from there straight to camp in clear skies and a nice tail wind to find soup for the last 17 miles. Landed at about 730 pm to be met by a bear on the dock. Fair bit of a mess. Cleaned for a while and had a nice dinner only to step out for a leak around midnight to the bear coming out the warehouse windown... haven't seen him since. Took three days to get the camp to where it should have been when I landed. Cleaned for two days, fix plumbing for another day and finally am ahead of the game and am in Kuujjuaq waiting for my crew to show up in the morning. Plane is working great other than some brake issues here today in Kuujjuaq. Back to full time float plane until parts arrive. Been interesting and another chapter in the adventure.... and the weather has been crap other than today. Likely flyable everyday but wouldn't be enjoyable. Calling for crap tomorrow, let's see what happens. Have about 1200 pounds of meat + gear, booze, supplies and
food to move tomorrow. Hopefully the weather cooperates and the bear hasn't made a nightly visit..

[sheephunter]

Made it home Sunday evening. 1007 SM in 11hrs. Gotta hate those headwinds. Fueled in Kuujjuaq, Mirage, Matagami and home to Huntsville.

[frac]

Made it home Sunday evening. 1007 SM in 11hrs. Gotta hate those headwinds. Fueled in Kuujjuaq, Mirage, Matagami and home to Huntsville.

Good Morning,

I am planning a flight from Montreal to Iqaluit next week in a single engine piston and I was looking for 100 LL in Nunavik. I have been informed by Halutik Fuel in Kuujjuaq that the pilot should bring his/her own pump to refill. I am not a bush pilot but I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers to a fuel stop in this area that would have the appropriate device available.

Since I noticed that you fueled in Kuujjuaq I was wondering if you used your own pump or found a local one.

Kind Regards,

Marc-Olivier
Paris France

[sheephunter]

Marc-Oliver, I have my own refeuling stuff. At one time they had at the airport a real crappy rotory style hand crank pump that would turn one revolution and then jam, then another and jam. Don't rely on it still being there and if it is, you will wish you never saw it. There's a reason why the guy left it there. You will have to purchase fuel by the drum and I suggest having your own pump and not the rotory type. Get the hand pump type. Refueling a low wing by yourself is a piece of cake but to fuel a high wing is a bit more of a pain as well make sure you have enough hose to reach. It is nice if you have the length to place the barrel in one place and reach tanks on each side without having to resituate the barrel for each side. The other option is to pump into a 5 gal. can and then into the aircraft... also a pain. I think Kuujjuaq is your best bet though. If you have the room, an extra couple of cans is nice in case you can't fit an entire drum, at least you can take that last 5 - 10 or 15 gals. with you. I think it was around $800.00/drum in Kuujjuaq or near $100.00 / 5 gal can so like I say, it's tough to just leave it there. Mirage also have a gravel strip with good refueling abilities, good accomadation/meals and are open year round but also almost 400 miles to the south of Kuujjuaq and maybe a bit to the west of your track depending on where you coming from. I have my pump system set up so that I can thread a piece of sealed abs type pipe over the stem that goes down into the drum thus when storing no fuel can spill inside the aircraft. I also have the outlet of the pump plumbed with quick discontects so that the hose can be taken off and plugged at each end as well the pump. I also have a fuel filter that will hook to the pump before the hose. If you are strictly using "sealed" drums you shouldn't need the filter. With my set up I can put the hose and pump anywhere without too much worry about spillage. Hope this helps.

[roscoe]

"If you are strictly using "sealed" drums you shouldn't need the filter"
Sorry to butt in on a very interesting topic BUT; after several years and more drums pumped by hand than you can imagine (Avgas and Turbo) a filter is absolutely essential. You would not believe the crap that comes out of some drums, and you only need one bad one to drop you into serious sh*t! Drums from Montreal were the worst, followed by Norman Wells.
My $0.02

[fish4life]

Made it home Sunday evening. 1007 SM in 11hrs. Gotta hate those headwinds. Fueled in Kuujjuaq, Mirage, Matagami and home to Huntsville.

Good Morning,

I am planning a flight from Montreal to Iqaluit next week in a single engine piston and I was looking for 100 LL in Nunavik. I have been informed by Halutik Fuel in Kuujjuaq that the pilot should bring his/her own pump to refill. I am not a bush pilot but I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers to a fuel stop in this area that would have the appropriate device available.

Since I noticed that you fueled in Kuujjuaq I was wondering if you used your own pump or found a local one.

Kind Regards,

Marc-Olivier
Paris France

Just a question about the "I'm not a bush pilot" part. I was just wondering if you have any experience flying in that area? As well if you know what to fully expect flying up / out there ? It can be tough for guys flying turbine twins a piston single really limits your options especially this time of the year with lots of icing around.

[frac]

With my set up I can put the hose and pump anywhere without too much worry about spillage. Hope this helps.

Yes thank you very much for your information, I called Pourvoirie Mirage and enquired about availability of 100LL and they told me it should not be an issue. It is also a conveniently located close to LG-4 where METAR, TAF and instrument approaches are available if I need to wait for weather.

Also, current fuel price is 2,35 CAD a liter, all-in (a bargain).

Regarding the Fuel pump, I have been advised to check with the following suppliers for a manual pump, do you have a specific model in mind? If I can avoid buying one, I will because I will have no immediate need for it back in Europe.

1. KMD Distribution Tel: 514-421-0082 and Fax: 514-421-0086
2. Equipements Dorion Tel: 450-629-2292 Fax: 450-975-7556

As of today, here are the villages where 100LL drums availability is not an issue: Puvirnituq, Kuujjuarapik, Salluit, Inukjuak, Kangirsuk, Kangiqsujuaq, Kuujjuaq and George River (Kangiqsualujjuaq).

Sorry to butt in on a very interesting topic BUT; after several years and more drums pumped by hand than you can imagine (Avgas and Turbo) a filter is absolutely essential.

I have duly noted your sound comments roscoe.

Just a question about the "I'm not a bush pilot" part. I was just wondering if you have any experience flying in that area? As well if you know what to fully expect flying up / out there ? It can be tough for guys flying turbine twins a piston single really limits your options especially this time of the year with lots of icing around.

No, in fact I don't have any experience flying in Northern Quebec I have some experience in the Alaska North Slope, Yukon and The Beaufort Delta but I am a southern pilot, not a bush pilot. I am taking my time to prepare the trip and I have no absolute schedule to meet. Also, being turbo normalized and having plenty of oxygen I expect to be able to plan most of the flight in VMC conditions. I have been studying the weather patterns in the area for the last couple of weeks and I am eager to learn more from those in the know

Thanks for you comments,

Marc-Olivier

[sheephunter]

Roscoe, agreed about the filter and have pumped a lot of shitty fuel from shitty drums with old fuel over the years as well but the 100LL in sealed drums that was available in Kuujjuaq as recently as Sept. was real nice, clear, clean and in new, unbeat drums. I was using my Mr. Funnel filter and didn't get any contamination and absolutely no water. Doesn't mean the very next drum might be "the one". Constant vigilance is always important when it comes to fuel, wherever you get it from and I don't take it lightly either. That's why I do have the inline filter system as well the mr. funnel. Frac, I kinda figured you were heading across the pond as no one is really heading that direction right now in a single on wheels to play around. Sounds like you are going to try for before Christmas? I'll go look in the hangar in the morning to see what brand(s) I have been using. I have both hand pump and electric off a 12V battery. I think there are some manual ones for under $200.00 What type of aircraft?

[frac]

Frac, I kinda figured you were heading across the pond as no one is really heading that direction right now in a single on wheels to play around. Sounds like you are going to try for before Christmas?

Indeed, the airplane is looking for a new home in France but ferrying a single engine aircraft across the pond is dangerous enough that I am not pressuring myself for a fixed date.

I'll go look in the hangar in the morning to see what brand(s) I have been using. I have both hand pump and electric off a 12V battery. I think there are some manual ones for under $200.00 What type of aircraft?

Thank you, for the aircraft, it is a SR22 Turbo, definitely not a bush plane

Marc-Olivier

[fish4life]

not 100% sure on that type but are they approved for flight into icing?

[frac]

not 100% sure on that type but are they approved for flight into icing?

Not all of them are but most turbo SR22 owners select the option because it increases usefulness of the plane year round since the Turbo model in not really economical compared to the normally aspirated bellow 10 000' feet.

They obtained FAA FIKI certification in April 2009 for the SR22

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=93263

Before this date, the de-icing/anti-icing system was not certified for flight into known icing but still provided some relief in case of inadvertent icing encounter.

Both FIKI and non-FIKI models are equipped with a weeping wing system from CAV which works as long as you have fluid (TKS) on board.

However, no sane person would plan to cruise in known icing conditions in a light aircraft (a test pilot maybe).

Regards,

Marc-Olivier