AC 585 New York Newark - Calgary: Sat, Sep 29 2012
Early start today, shuttle bus from the Hilton over to the airport, about an 8 minute ride. The electronic check-in points read your passport and allow you to pay the $25 baggage fee using a credit card reader. The baggage drop is close by, then it is down one level to the security check point. Today they wanted everything out of pockets including handkerchiefs. Shoes and belts off, and all liquids in clear plastic bags. They were using a PD Scanner for everyone, and it required you to stand on two footprints with your arms raised above your head with hands together. After a quick scan, a big OK comes up on a monitor alongside the booth.
From security, Terminal A has a long corridor to the round Gate area, where there are several food outlets.
Today’s service is being operated by an Embraer 190 C-FNAX from Terminal A Gate 11 Departure at 0800 similar to our flight down to New York from Toronto, and again the Embraer 190 is less than half full, I am a little surprised by this.
Pushback then taxi via the UPS and FedEx Terminals to PD for Runway 04 The first section of the runway has a couple of sharp hollows and the aircraft almost seems to bounce over them during the takeoff roll. Climb out is with The Manhattan skyline to the starboard side, then quickly into cloud at around 2000ft.
Kalitta Air B747-259B/F N701CK
FedEx A300-622R /F N749FD
Climbing out from Newark with the Manhattan shyline in the background.
Track today is via Toronto then Ironwood and Grand Forks.
As on previous Air Canada flights they ask you to use your own headphones, but have some on sale also. This is an environmental initiative.
Shortly after takeoff they offered food for purchase, and free Tea, Coffee, Juice and drinks. Air Canada have 3 Flight Attendants in the main cabin.
I was hoping to see the Great Lakes today, but so far there has been solid cloud all the way. The cloud topped out at around 10,000ft
The E190 wing.
Looking forward in the E190.
0927 The cloud has cleared somewhat and the massive expanse of Lake Huron is visible below. The Great lakes are more like seas, with Lake Ontorio, where we were staying in Oshawa, some 34 miles wide and 100 plus miles long.
0946 Overhead the northern end of Lake Superior just south of Escanaba at 36000ft and 538mph. Now 2 hr 39min out of Calgary.
1000 West of Iron Mountain and the ground is red and dotted with many small lakes. Presumably the red is from the Autumn colours of the trees, although there were areas of green trees and pasture in between.
1043 Turn right to 260 overhead Grand Forks at 36000ft and 569mph with 1hr 40min to run.
1128 Overhead Lumsden heading 230 at 36000ft and 537mph
1205 Top of descent
1226 Touchdown on Runway 34 at Calgary.
We collected our bags and dropped them off at the Banff Airporter counter for the 2 hour bus ride to Banff.
On approach to Calgary with the city visible below, and the airport back to the right.
Turning base for Runway 34 at Calgary.
Activities In Banff
Arriving mid afternoon, we had a good walk around Banff which is a beautiful town, nestled in the valley between the mountains. Dinner was up the Gondola to the mountain top restaurant, which had a spectacular view over Banff, and we walked to the old weather station. The next day we visited Lake Louise and the Athabasca Glacier, below the Colombia Ice Fields – simply stunning. Day two was a visit to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, followed by a wildlife tour where we saw Elk and Deer in natural settings. Day 3 we walked to the Bow Falls, the Fairmont Bamff, the Historic original houses in Banff, followed by a beautiful walk along the river and forested areas. As we departed Banff they had their first snow fall of the season. The Banff Airporter is a 2 hour drive back to Calgary.
Lake Louise, simply magic.
The Chateau at Lake Louise.
The Athabasca Glacier.
The $1,000,000 Ice Bus takes you to the middle of the glacier, where the ice is 1000ft thick. It was -10 degrees out in the open, but the pure glacial water
was great to drink.
Looking towards the top of the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Ice Fields.
Elk on Banff Golf Course - If you hit one you can take another shot. If there are Elk on the green, you can claim par and move onto the next hole. Eighty
people a year in Banff end up in ICU because of Elk attacks - More dangerous than Bears. The antlers on an eight pointer can be the width of a bus.
The Fairmont Hotel in Banff with many sections build from the local rock - quite beautiful.
Morraine Lake, even more impressive natural beauty than Lake Louise.
