LAC LA BICHE - Aircraft from near and far will be flying in and landing on Lac La Biche Lake during the Lac La Biche Ice Festival of Speed.
The fly-in will be held on March 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., each day.
Ken Zachkewich, a member of the Lac La Biche Flying Club and director of the Ice Festival Committee, has been a primary organizer of the ice fly-in since its inception in 2010.
Zachkewich said the fly-in is a way for visitors to meet with pilots and share their love of aviation. Flying onto a frozen lake, Zachkewich said, is uncommon for many pilots.
“For many urban based pilots, the opportunity to fly to somewhere considered the remote north, roast a hotdog over an open fire, have a hot chocolate and see world class car and snowmobile racing, is a bucket list experience for many,” he told Lakeland This Week.
According to Zachewich, the on-ice aircraft fly-in for the 2025 Lac La Biche Ice Festival of Speed will be similar to previous years, with volunteers and donated equipment clearing a 4,000’x100’x30” thick runway, helipad, and parking area on the frozen surface of Lac La Biche.
The number of aircraft that take part in the fly-in is often dependent on the weather. As for the locations where these pilots come from, in previous years, pilots have flown in from as far as northern British Columbia and central Saskatchewan.
Organizers of the event have also had visitors from Ottawa and Arkansas arrive at the Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and then hitch a ride to the ice.
“We are considered the primary winter fly-in event in Canada. We have seen as many as 108 visiting aircraft over the weekend, making it one of the busiest airspaces in Canada for our ‘pop-up’ airport,” he explained.
Local pilots, including Zachkewich, are among those who land on the temporary runway. Zachkewich typically flies his Cherokee 180 aircraft onto the ice.
“I have been involved every year and proudly fly onto the ice each time,” he said.
The on-ice fly-in has brought worldwide recognition to Lac La Biche. The event, which allows the public to enjoy hot drinks and food while checking out the various aircraft that have landed on the frozen surface of Lac La Biche Lake, has been featured in nationwide publications.
The fly-in also helps to boost tourism in the Lac La Biche area. Many visitors see the beauty of Lac La Biche, Zachkewich said, and can’t wait to return.
“Ultimately, winter can be a long grind. If you can embrace the opportunities that we have, winter becomes an experience, rather than something to dread,” he said.
