The mountains are calling
Change your aerial landscape, become a better pilot
If you’re looking for a new way to take your flying to the next level, mountain flying should be at the top of the list. Becoming proficient at flying in mountainous terrain opens a whole new realm of exciting and beautiful destinations you may not have felt comfortable visiting before, as well as introducing a host of new challenges you may not have faced before if you’ve learned to fly closer to sea level.
Before you get rocky mountain high it’s imperative to receive formal training through a specialized course or with an experienced and qualified flight instructor who specializes in mountain flying. This training typically consists of an hours-long ground school and four or more hours in the air with an instructor where you’ll learn about density altitude and its effects, wind, weather, and reading clouds, turbulence, how and when to approach ridges and canyons, flight planning, short- and soft-field takeoffs and landings, making the go/no-go decision, and more.
If you’re like me, mountain flying may not be a big priority for you and your missions, but sometimes these challenges come at us when we least expect them. When I found out I would be flying the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 182 from Arizona to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, I was relieved to have a seasoned CFI with mountain flying experience by my side showing me the ropes and walking me through the flight plan and all the decision making. We ended up having to make a no-go decision and delay our departure by a day because of thunderstorms and other weather phenomena forecast in the mountains that coming evening. Although our route across the Sandia Mountain range into New Mexico wasn’t the most intense, it still presented many of the same challenges and factors that need to be understood and considered before making our way.
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