"Amazing Adventure Destinations Across Northern Canada"
The Following Flight Description Includes Private Jet Charters From Chicago. You Can Also Choose To Fly Scheduled Airline Flights From Chicago to Thunder Bay Which Will Save You Money, But Will Take A Few Extra Hours To Arrive.
About Chicago's Executive Airport (PWK)
Standard charter flight departures will be from the the private passenger terminal provided by Signature Flight Support located at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) formely known as Palwaukee Municipal Airport. The airport is located in the northwest community of Wheeling, 18 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.We can upon request arrange charter flights out of other Chicago or Wisconsin Airports such as Chicago Dupage, Rockford or Milwaukee area. However, this may result in additional charges.
Departures Times
Guests have total flexibility in deciding on departure day and time. However, if you wish to get in a full day of remote Canadian fishing on your first day, you will want to arrange an early morning departure from Chicago. The following example uses a departure time of 7 am
One of the benefits of flying private charter flights is your ability to fly according to your schedule. You tell us what day and time you want to depar.
For the example provided on this page however, we are using a suggested departure time of 7 am which will allow you to arrive at your remote Canadian Fishing Lodge or Outpost with plenty of time to get in 6 - 8 hours of fishing that day.
Both jet and high performance turbine aircraft are used on the charter flights from Chicago to Thunder Bay. The distance is only 450 air miles to Thunder Bay, so the difference if flight time between a Jet and a High Performance Turbine is only about 20 minutes - and generally clients will pay considerably less using the Turbine Aircraft.
Both aircraft types are fully pressurized and fly at a crusing alttitude of between 25,000 to 30,000 feet. Seating capacity will vary between 6 - 8 passengers. Some aircraft may have a lavatory as well. On board catering can be arranged with sufficient advance notice.
Your flight time to Thunder Bay will vary between 1.5 - 2 hours depending on aircraft type and weather conditions.
Immediately upon arrival in Thunder Bay, you will be met by a Canadian Customs agent. The Customs agent may come aboard the aircraft to check passports and ask the standard questions, or you may be asked to attend the customs clearancer area in the main airport terminal.
Upon clearing Canadina Customs, your group will be met by a customer service agent who will assist you with your baggage and drive you to the float plane departure location.
If there are 6 - 8 members in your group you will most likely connect with the 8 passenger Amphibious Cessna Caravan which operates from the Thunder Bay Airport. This aircraft is designed to operate from both land and water making it ver convenient for passengers flying into Thunder Bay.
If you are a group of 2 - 4 passengers, your customer service agent will drive you to the Thunder Bay harbour seaplane base where you will connect with the 4 passenger De Havilland Beaver float plane aircraft
If your destination is a full service American Plan Fishing Lodge, there is probably very little you need to bring with you, other than a suitcase and fishing tackle.
If however your destination is an outpost camp or a facility where you will be doing all your own cooking, you most likely will need to bring groceries and other supplies. You obviously will not be bringing all this with you on the flight from Chicago. So in order to expedite your quick departure out of Thunder Bay with the float plane, our expediting service will pre fill your requirements and have them ready and waiting at the float plane upon your arrival.
If you need any items pre ordered for you, let us know and we will supply you with the pre order form used for all orders. Simply email us the completed form listing your grocery order, supplies, beer, booze, ice and any other items you require. The orders will be filled and then weighed to ensure you are within weight limits for the float plane trip north. If the weight exceeds the limits set by the air charter company, you will be advised in order that you can plan on any adjustments.
There are dozens of remote fly-in fishing lodges and outpost camps located throughout the vast wilderness region north of Thunder Bay. Flight distances can range from 80 miles to more than 200 miles north of the city.
Your flight time by float plane can range anywhere from 45 minutes to just under 2 hours. Once you have confirmed your booking with the fsihing lodge or outpost camp, you will be provided with a more accurate estimate of flight times.
If you do not yet have a reservation at a Canadian Fishing Lodge or Outpost Camp, you can begin your search for the facility that best meets your requirements by using the following link:
Search Remote Fishing Lodges and Outpost Camps Throughout Ontario and Manitoba
Some Remote Fishing Lodges Have Their Own Private Airstrip. You would fly wheel plane from Thunder Bay, direct to the ldoge airstrip.
If your destination is more than 200 air miles north of Thunder Bay it is sometimes more cost efficient to use a wheel plane. If your destination is beyond the normal range of the float plane, we will arrange your wheel plane charter flight from Thunder Bay to the closest land airport that has available local float plane charter service. For example if your destination is in the Red Lake or Pickle Lake regions of Northwestern Ontario, you would most likley fly by wheel plane to the local airport and then switch to float plane for your final leg of the journey to the fishing lodge or outpost camp.
Some fishing lodges may have their own private air strip. If the runway is acceptable to the air charter service, you may fly by wheel plane from Thunder Bay direct to the fishing lodge.
Flight time to your fishing lodge or outpost camp will depend on the location you have chosen. For destinations within a radius of 150 miles of Thunder Bay, your float plane flight time will range from 30 minutes to just over an hour.
You confirm your Fishing Lodge or Outpost Camp reservations directly with the facility of your choice. Many of our participating destinations offer 3, 5 and 7 day packages. Once you have confirmed your reservation, arrival and departure dates with the lodge or outpost camp, you can then confirm your flight arrangements directly with the airlines providing the service.
You can request a round trip flight quote from New York to any Canadian Lodge / Outpost Camp or Remote Destination, however here is our list of remote fishing lodges, outpost camps and other destinations who participate in our Charter Flights to Adventure program.
