Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Tour Operator:.
- Is the business a large multi-planed operation, or a one plane, one owner type company?
- How many years and/or hours of flying experience does the pilot have?
- Does the pilot regularly fly in this territory? (Many pilots are hired seasonally and come from the lower 48 states).
- What type of plane will you be flying in? Most flight seeing planes seat 4, 6 or 10 passengers
- Will all passengers have a window?
- What are the cancellation policies for: weather, expected turbulence, number of passengers, or generally?
- What type of tour is this? Some tours are specifically for whale or bear watching, others focus on scenery.
- How many water landings are included in the tour?
- Will you be allowed to step onto land, or will you only be exiting onto the pontoon or docks?
- Will there be communication with the pilots and other passengers or is this a narrated tour?
- Are tickets purchased through the cruise line, at the Visitor’s Center or directly from a website?
- Are there additional discounts for early booking, AAA members, military, children or senior citizens?
- What is the total air time?
Things to Know Before You Go:
- Due to flight regulations, big bags (such as camera bags) may not be allowed on board. Check with your tour operator about how much luggage or equipment you will be allowed to carry.
- Ask if there is on-site, secured storage for any excess baggage that won’t be allowed and/or needed on the flight.
- Are there restrooms available before departure?
- Since most of your photos will be taken while looking through glass and from inside the plane, learn how to turn the flash on your camera (or cell phone) to the off position which will prevent hot spots on your images.
- When using a DSLR, I also found it helpful to turn the grid line feature on, since the horizon is often at an angle.
- You are going see many beautiful things, bring extra camera batteries, make sure they are charged.
- Carry additional camera cards. Make sure they are cleared and formatted.
- Carry waterproof covering for your camera and for yourself.
Things to Make the Day More Enjoyable:
- Temperatures and weather conditions can fluctuate significantly between your departure and the surrounding locations, dress in layers and always have waterproof covering available.
- You will be stepping out onto metal ladders to enter the plane and pontoons when you land at your destination, they can be very slippery, wear non-slip shoes.
- We also stepped onto the island which was very muddy and the mud was somewhat stagnant smelling. I would recommend not wearing new shoes and maybe carrying a wet wipe or two.
- Due to the limited space, getting into and out of these planes can be a little challenging, travelers with limitations may want to take this into consideration when choosing their tour.
- You never know what you might see in the wilderness, always carry binoculars.
- Get out from behind the camera and just absorb the beauty.
Where to Find a Tour in Ketchikan, Alaska:
Carlin Air-www.carlinair.com
Island Wings Air Service-www.islandwings.com
Misty Fjords Air & Outfitting-www.mistyfjordsair.com
Mountain Air Service-www.mtair.biz
Promech Air-www.promechair.com
Southeast Aviation-www.southeastaviation.com
Taquan Air Alaska-www.taquanair.com
Ketchikan area tours can be booked directly through the cruise line, privately online, or in person at the Visitor’s Center located on dock 4