Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of aircraft do you fly? We fly 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. Our aircraft 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 remove seats that will not be necessary on a flight.

How many people are on your flights? Our plane can carry up to 4, or 5 lighter passengers. All of our bear viewing trips require a minimum of two people to confirm a flight reservation. 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 office. That means you need to be parked, have made a bathroom stop and are ready to climb onto the airplane. Having to re-park the RV or needing to use the bathroom when it is time to depart or showing up late 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 delayed 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.

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 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 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. 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 glacier, and view the Homer spit from the air. 

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

What do you see on a typical scenic flight? We take off from Beluga Lake and fly over the Homer Spit, then over to Kachemak Bay State Park.  There you see breathtaking views of the mountains and on a clear day you might see Mt. Douglas, Mt. Augustine, Mt. Illiamna and Mt. Redoubt.  There is always the chance of a bear spotting as well as otters and mountain goats. The highlight of the 30 minute flightsee is Grewingk Glacier.  This glacier is one of the most popular to see in Alaska.