Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of aircraft do you fly? I fly a Cessna 206 Stationair on floats, a very common Alaskan bush plane used state-wide to carry passengers, supplies and mail to remote communities and outposts. It can seat five passengers, and is maintained to the highest maintenance standards. The weight we can carry greatly depends on the distance we need to fly, extra fuel we have to carry for navigating around the weather and even the number of passengers that will be on the flight – we can remove seats that will not be necessary on a flight.

How many people are on your flights? The plane can carry up to 5 passengers. All of our bear viewing trips require a minimum of two people to confirm a flight reservation. Single travlers can be accomodated on "walk-in" basis. For shorter flight sees, we need at least three seats paid for to make the flight happen.

Where should I park my car/RV? At Steller Air we have limited parking. If you are driving an RV, please ask about parking in advance. Please keep in mind that if you have a reservation, there will be specific time to be at the dock. That means you need to have made a bathroom stop, parked, and ready to climb into the airplane. Showing up late, having to re-park the RV or finding a bathroom when it is time to depart may cut into your bear viewing time, force us to leave you behind as other passengers have showed up on time or cancel the flight alltogether.

When will the weather improve? Many flights in Alaska are affected by weather. At Steller Air we are committed to your safety and will make decisions to wait until we can safely get you to your destination. If the weather does not clear to a level where we can safely launch a flight, it will be canceled. If your flight is canceled, you may reschedule for another day or receive a full refund.

What is your cancellation policy? If the flight is cancelled due to weather (decision made by Steller Air pilot at time of flight), the flight will be rescheduled at the customer’s convenience or will be eligible for a full refund. If we believe we won’t be able to see bears on our bear viewing flight, we will let you know and similarly cancel or reschedule.

Why do you need our weights? Airplanes have weight limits for takeoff and landing (which could be a different, lower limit). On flights that are sold "by the seat", I combine groups to make it economical for everyone. The only way to do this is to have everyone follow same rules - the weigh in instructions are on Reservations page.

What is the maximum load for the airplane? This really depends on where the flight is going, what the weather is (which affects how short of a route we can take) and what the winds are doing. Even if you are the only group on the flight, I need to know the weight in advance so I can have a bit more fuel than the minimum required in case there is unexpected weather.

Can I make a reservation and only fly if it is a sunny, calm, perfect day? No. This can be done on "walk in" basis - just like all of our flight sees. Let us know what you are interested in, we'll figure out the possibilities and price. Then text the night before and we will know what the weather is expected to be and what our availability will be.

Can I sit in the co-pilot seat? Please feel free to request to sit up front, but the final seating arrangement is up to the pilot and is restricted by weight and balance of the aircraft. We will do our best to accommodate your wishes for a perfect scenic flight.

Do you guarantee seeing wildlife? Only on our bear viewing trips. However, on all our trips we will do our best to take you to locations where your wildlife viewing goals can be met in accordance with the time of year you are in Alaska. Our scenic flight passengers often see bears, goats, and sea otters.  Many of our flights over Cook Inlet have the opportunity to view whales.

Is it cold in the plane? The best advice in Alaska is to wear layers. There is a heater in the airplane but it can be chilly in the aircraft at altitude. Everyone is provided with head sets so we can talk throughout the flight. Weather can be amazingly different at your destination than it was at your point of departure. If you are going to Brooks Camp with us, look at the weather for King Salmon. Most often, we see people bundled up while it is 85 degrees there and the pilot is going swimming. 

What is the in-flight movie on a floatplane? It’s called ‘the window’, and luckily, everyone gets a window seat.

What is the most popular trip at Steller Air? Our most requested flight see is the 1/2 hour scenic flight around the Homer, Alaska area. We fly over the Kachemak Bay State Park, Grewingk and possibly Wosnesenski glacier, and view the Homer spit from the air. 

Where do you go bear viewing? We go to Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park.