Audience Presenter Copyright 1990 2014 Colorado Pilots Association

Tips for Mountain Flying Weather, Planning, and What Gets Pilots In Trouble Presented by

Agenda Q Q Mountain weather Reading the clouds Planning a mountain cross country What

Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Some good advice at the Leadville airport… Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All

Q Q This briefing will highlight some of the important aspects you will learn

Mountain Weather Highlights Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Weather Requirements for Mountain Cross-country Winds aloft forecast, at 9, 000 and 12, 000

Mountain Wave Can occur in any season, but very common in the winter Q

Mountain or Lee Wave Wind direction Lenticular Clouds Downdraft Updraft Turbulence From Terrain Copyright

ACSL – Altocumulus Standing Lenticulars Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

What’s the Wind Doing? Q Where are the updrafts and downdrafts? j Updrafts on

Check The Density Altitude! Rule of thumb – 85º on a Colorado Front Range

Effects of Density Altitude on Aircraft Performance Standard temperatures at different altitudes Sea Level

Effects of High Altitudes on Aircraft Performance Normally-aspirated engines develop approximately 3% less power

Leaning for High Density Altitudes Q Why lean? j To ensure maximum power output

Effects of Higher Altitude on Aircraft Performance TAS is approximately 2% higher than IAS

Planning Tools Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Planning the Route Mountain flight planning involves points in space, not predefined intersections, etc.

Weather Planning Tools Some major passes have AWOS, so you can get real time

Get the current version at http: //www. colorado-aeronautics. org/aeroawos. htm Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado

Airportview. net Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Radar doesn’t see anything In this area below about FL 230 Copyright 1990 -2014

What Gets Pilots In Trouble? Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Dangerous Passes Loveland Pass j Narrow valley, high terrain j DON’T FOLLOW I-70!! j

Wishful Thinking If it looks like this out of your windscreen, you have a

Poor Planning What do I do if I have to abort the landing? Copyright

Box Canyon A canyon with steep sides and possibly a zigzag course, that is

Flying up a Valley or Canyon Before entering a valley or canyon, have sufficient

Poor Planning – Which is the correct valley? Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association,

Turn Radius vs. Speed 150 KTS 100 KTS Greater speed = Greater Turning Radius

Emergency Procedures Q Survival j j after landing Stay with airplane! Keep warm, stay

What Kind of ELT? Q 406 Mhz ELTs j Becoming much more affordable j

Survival Preparation Q Q Q Take a good mountain flying ground school. Get flight

Proficiency and Peace of Mind • Expand your horizons • Take a mountain flying

Colorado Pilots Association www. coloradopilots. org Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights

Slides: 37

Download presentation

Tips for Mountain Flying Weather, Planning, and What Gets Pilots In Trouble Presented by the Colorado Pilots Association www. coloradopilots. org Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Q Q This briefing will highlight some of the important aspects you will learn in a quality mountain flying course. It is not a complete course, but should be a reminder to get good training before you fly in the mountains. A full mountain course would include a full day of ground training on a variety of topics, then several hours flying in the mountains. Every mountainous area is different and familiarity with one doesn’t mean you are prepared for some others. Local training will help you apply what you’ve learned in other areas to a new environment that might have unexpected hazards. Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Weather Requirements for Mountain Cross-country Winds aloft forecast, at 9, 000 and 12, 000 feet is a maximum of 25 knots. Q Ceiling at least 2, 000 feet above all ridges and passes along the route. Q Visibility of at least 10 miles along the route. Q If any of these requirements are not met, look for a suitable alternate route, delay the flight, or cancel the flight and rent a car. Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Mountain Wave Can occur in any season, but very common in the winter Q Stable atmosphere Q Wind at least 15 knots within 30 degrees of perpendicular of the barrier (mountain range, etc. ) Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

What’s the Wind Doing? Q Where are the updrafts and downdrafts? j Updrafts on the windward side of ridges, downdrafts on the leeward side. j Picture in your mind what the wind is doing, but leave yourself an out in case you’re wrong. j When operating parallel with a valley, it is usually best to fly over the updraft side in order to take advantage of any updrafts which may be present. Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Effects of Density Altitude on Aircraft Performance Standard temperatures at different altitudes Sea Level 59°F (15°C) 5, 000’ 41°F ( 5°C) 10, 000’ 23°F ( -5°C) The elevation at Leadville is 9, 927 feet. At 63°F, (40°higher than standard) the density altitude would be 12, 500’. Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Effects of High Altitudes on Aircraft Performance Normally-aspirated engines develop approximately 3% less power for each thousand feet above sea level. Q At Leadville (9, 927 feet) on a Standard Day (23°F), a normally-aspirated engine can develop only 70% of its rated horsepower. Think of this as taking off at a cruise power setting! Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Leaning for High Density Altitudes Q Why lean? j To ensure maximum power output from the engine at higher elevations. j To reduce sparkplug fouling during idle and taxi operations at any airport. Q When to lean? j When taxiing. j Anytime the engine is operating above approximately 3, 500 feet MSL. Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Effects of Higher Altitude on Aircraft Performance TAS is approximately 2% higher than IAS for every thousand feet of altitude Q Turn radius proportional to square of TAS j Greater at high altitude for any given IAS and bank angle because TAS is greater Q Takeoff and landing distances are significantly increased Q Q Reducing an aircraft’s weight to no more than 90% of the maximum gross weight, will significantly increase its performance and flight safety Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Planning the Route Mountain flight planning involves points in space, not predefined intersections, etc. Q GPS direct usually isn’t a good idea. Q j DEN direct GJT is over the highest mountains in Colorado Plan the route over passes, along drainages, etc. Q Use user defined waypoints for common waypoints, such as passes. Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Dangerous Passes Loveland Pass j Narrow valley, high terrain j DON’T FOLLOW I-70!! j Alternative – Rawlins Pass Q Independence Pass j Narrow canyon j Over high, rugged terrain a long time j Alternative – Hagerman Pass Q Monarch Pass j Long, curving pass j Alternative – Marshall Pass Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Flying up a Valley or Canyon Before entering a valley or canyon, have sufficient altitude to safely clear the highest terrain to be encountered, a pass or ridge. Q Don’t try to out climb the terrain. Q This is a major cause of fatal accidents in the mountains. Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Emergency Procedures Q Survival j j after landing Stay with airplane! Keep warm, stay dry, and drink fluids Activate the ELT and let rescuers turn it off Attempt radio contact with other aircraft • ATC frequency, UNICOM frequency j Signal by radio, mirror, etc. Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

What Kind of ELT? Q 406 Mhz ELTs j Becoming much more affordable j Provide the satellites a much more precise location Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are good backups Q SPOT, Spidertracks, etc. have signaling features and leave breadcrumb tracks to help find you Q Satellite phones, especially in places like Alaska Q Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Survival Preparation Q Q Q Take a good mountain flying ground school. Get flight instruction from an experienced mountain flying instructor. www. coloradopilots. org Copyright 1990 -2014 Colorado Pilots Association, All Rights Reserved

Proficiency and Peace of Mind • Expand your horizons • Take a mountain flying course • Perfect Practice • Document in WINGS 36