Mountain Instrument Flying | Mountain Flight Training
High terrain also presents some unique considerations when flying on instruments. For example climb gradients, visual descent points, and abnormal instrument procedures.
One such scenario involves what to do if you need to go missed after a missed approach point, i.e. on a visual descent leg.
To understand this scenario you'll need to look at the approach chart ILS-06 for Gunnison Colorado (KGUC). You'll see that the DH is 8590 (minimum) which will be roughly a distance of 2.4 miles from the runway at an altitude of 923 feet. The basis for this potential scenario is based on the fact that a lot can happen in 2.4 miles and 923 feet.
Let's imagine you fly this approach and arrive at the DH, you see some portion of the runway environment and continue to descend for landing. Now at 350 feet and 1 mile the wind picks up and you completely loose sight of the runway due to the increased blowing snow. What would you do now? Most pilots would answer that they would go missed. While this is conceptually the right answer (since continuing the descent is no good), the details of how to carry out this missed approach procedure needs to be explored.
See, the missed approach procedure is designed to be flown from the missed approach point or decision height... not before or after. As part of instrument training, we teach our students that if they decide to fly missed before the missed approach point they can begin climbing immediately, but they need to wait to turn until after the missed approach point. Executing the procedure before or after the MAP/DH may place the aircraft in danger, especially in mountainous terrain where the missed lateral track is designed to keep the aircraft clear of specific terrain.
Today, the missed procedure for GUC is climb straight to 10,000 then climbing right turn HDG 180 to 12,000. When this approach was originally first published, the missed procedure was climbing right turn to 12,000. If the pilot attempted to fly the missed past the DH, then there was a good chance they would hit a mountain to the right - this was later revised to include the straight ahead portion to 10,000.
Back to our sceanrio, what does a pilot do if they need to fly missed past the MAP or DH? The first solution is to avoid getting in this situation to begin with. As part of the preflight excercise the pilot should be carefully reading the approaches to the destination airport as well. If the approach has a DH or MAP that is more than a half mile from the runway then the pilot should consider whether this type of scenario could develop, and what should be done if it does develop.
If the approach DH or MAP is more than a half mile ask yourself if the executing the missed approach after the DH will create any potential hazards. If so, then take a look at the departure procedure for that runway. How does the departure procedure work? You might find that if you fly past the DH or MAP and need to go missed the better procedure to follow may be the departure procedure or SID for that runway.
Mountain Flight Instruction
Have you dreamed about flying through the colorado rockies or the desert southwest, but hesitant to embark on that journey without additional instruction? Come fly with the instructors at alpine flight training located in eagle colorado. Our location in western colorado is ideal for learning mountain flying. You'll experience mountain flying first hand as you visit airports throughout colorado such as steamboat, telluride, Gunnison, Aspen and Eagle. Our instructors will teach you what you need to know to fly safely in mountainous terrain from aircraft performance, to weather, to mountain flying strategy, navigation, and survival. We can train you in your aircraft or our rental aircraft. As part of your training you'll visit a variety of airports each with different challenges and experience a variety of different flight scenarios designed to teach you mountain flying in a real world environment. Call us today or visit alpineflighttraining.com for more information.
About Alpine Flight Training
About our flight school, how we work, what we think...
Alpine Flight Training operates at Eagle County Regional Airport and provides flight instruction in accordance with FAA Part 61. Every element of our operation emphasizes safety. We operate a modern Diamond DA-20-C1 aircraft under a rigid maintenance program. The Diamond DA-20-C1 is touted as having the best safety record in the business as well as excellent economy.
For many years now, we have successfully provided flight instruction in the Colorado Rockies and the Western Slope of Colorado. With a good deal of intuition and patience, we prepare our student pilots and private pilots for the FAA Written Exam and Checkride for private pilot and instrument ratings.
Our extensive training programs familiarize first-time fliers with aerodynamics, aircraft systems, airspace, a variety of flight maneuvers, and every other aspect necessary to become a safe and proficient pilot.
A few things about us:
- Our friendly and professional staff is available 7 days per week by appointment.
- We operate modern aircraft.
- We are located at Eagle Airport, near Vail Colorado
- Our flight instructors are patient, friendly, and highly skilled professionals.
- We instruct all levels of students from private to ATP.
- We teach mountain Flying in customer owned aircraft as well as our rental aircraft.
Instructional Philosophy
The last 15 years of watching and participating in the business of flight instruction has brought me to the conclusion that the instructor community is does a poor job of teaching students good reasoning and decision making skills. The message in the most basic sense is that instructors are constantly making decisions to protect students rather than allowing students to gain valuable decision making experience.
Instructors look at the weather, instructors cancel flights, and instructors tell students what to do during the entire course of training. Then, the student takes a check ride, the instructor is gone from the picture and the student has not learned how to effectively manage and evaluate the flight environment. The result is often that the student hurts him or herself and often others.
There are numerous real-world examples of the kind of critical thinking skills that are not being taught. For example, most pilots have the idea that airplanes must land on runways at airports. Some pilots may recognize that a taxi-way is also acceptable, but consider how many private pilots make VFR flights into IMC as a futile effort to make it to an airport. Students need to be taught to think outside the box and consider a variety of alternatives such as... when the weather started to get bad turn around. If it's too bad to turn around where is the nearest airport. Ok, weather is getting even worse... while we can still see something a good decision would be a landing on the road of choice rather than a flight into the mountain.
Here in the Rockies, each year at least one pilot flies the direct route into high terrain without evaluating the variables (density altitude, aircraft performance, terrain elevation). The result is a perfectly good airplane and an otherwise capable pilot hitting a mountain in the remote wilderness. More times than not the result is death.
Our primary goal when working with pilots (ATP's or students) is to teach the pilot what the variables are, how to evaluate the variables and the decision making to resolve the problems rather than rote teaching of hard fast rules and hands on skills. This isn't to say hands-on skills are not important, but as John and Martha King say.... Bad technical skills will result in a trip to the insurance agent, bad decision making skills will kill you.
It is our goal to teach students to recognize when and how variables play into certain situations, and impart a true understanding of how airplanes, the environment, and the pilot have to function together to make flight safe and enjoyable.
Our Instructors
Loren French
Probably the most important thing to know about me is that I learned to fly in the Colorado Rockies, and I have spent the last 15 years flying and teaching extensively in the mountains. My students fly a variety of aircraft ranging from Malibu's to 152's, and everything in between. I also have a BS Degree is Aeronautical Science, was part of the engineering program for the Eclipse 500 Jet, and was formerly a Master CFI, FAA Air Safety Counselor, and a Cirrus Certified Instructor Pilot.
Ratings:
- Airline Transport Pilot – Single Engine Land
- Commercial Pilot – Airplane Multi-Engine Sea, Single Engine Sea, Gliders.
- Flight Instructor: Airplane Single Engine, Airplane Multi-Engine.
- Endorsements: High Performance, Complex, Spin Instruction, Self Launch Gliders.
- Ground Instructor: Advanced and Instrument
Mountain Flight Training in Colorado
If you're interested in flight training with an emphasis on extending your knowledge with some mountain flight training then Colorado is the place to come to, and Alpine Flight Training can provide the instruction. We operate from Eagle County Regional airport, located in the central Colorado Rockies. Whether for several hours, or for several days, Alpine Flight Training instructors will show you what it takes to fly safely in the mountains. Each mountain flight training instruction session is specifically tailored to the student. We can provide training in your aircraft or our rental Katana.
Throughout each session, we will build on your aviation knowledge and airman-ship by presenting opportunities for hands-on practice and application of learning on some of Colorado's mountain airports including Steamboat, Eagle, Aspen, Telluride, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison. We'll also show you how to navigate the mountain passes and give you strategies for dealing with mountain weather in a small aircraft.
Mountain Flying Checkout in Colorado
Colorado is a great place to learn the ins and outs of mountain flying and get a mountain checkout. While there is no formal FAA rating or endorsement for a mountain checkout, many insurance companies will still require such checkout before pilots are allowed to fly into high terrain. At Alpine Flight Training we follow a curriculum that follows the topics developed by AOPA Air Safety Foundation. In Fact, we recommend every student coming for mountain flying to take the online ASF Mountain Flying Course prior to mountain flying with us. Doing so will make your mountain checkout count towards a wings phase of pilot proficiency, and that can mean a reduction in insurance premiums.
Any mountain checkout should consist of a combination of ground and flight instruction. Topics should include weather, performance limitations, specific maneuvers, strategies, practice landing and departing mountain airports with a variety of challenges, and practice flying mountain passes.
Eagle Airport - Flight Instruction, Ground Instruction, Aircraft Rental, Mountain Flying
Rates for flight & ground training as well as aircraft rental at Eagle Airport
| Aircraft Rental | |
| DA-20-C1 Katana Evolution Rental* | $129.00 / Hour |
| Instructional Rates | |
| Flight Instruction in Alpine Flight Traning Katana | $50.00 / Hour |
| Flight Instruction in Customer Owned Aircraft | $75.00 / Hour |
| Ground Instruction | $40.00 / Hour |
| Other Fees | |
| Overnight Trip Rate - Billed for instructor to accompany a pilot on overnight trip. | $350 + Expenses |
| *Aircraft are rented wet, meaning fuel and oil costs are included. Multi-day trips are billed at rate of 3.0 hours per day if the actual flight time is less. Ask us about the discount we extend to licensed pilots for maintaining their currency in our aircraft. If you are a licensed pilot and fly the aircraft at least 1 hour every 30 days we will discount your rental rate. | |
Flight Lessons in Vail Colorado, Eagle Airport
Learn to fly in the mountains at the Eagle Airport, located near Vail Colorado
Whether you are learning to fly for the first time, or simply looking to add mountain flying to your skill set, Alpine Flight Training located at Eagle Airport can help. Alpine Flight Training offers private pilot ground and flight training as well as instrument training at the Eagle County Regional Airport located in Eagle Colorado. Our training features a Diamond DA-20 Eclipse, one of the safest training aircraft in the industry, The DA-20 is the primary choice of flight schools through the nation as well as the training airplane for the US Air Force initial flight screening program.
If you are looking to lean more about Mountain Flying, Call and talk to the instructors at Alpine Flight Training. We will build a training plan ideally suited to any pilot’s skill level and experience. Our instructors can provide mountain training in our rental aircraft or in your own aircraft. Additionally, we can arrange to meet you at an airport east or west of the Rockies on the way from where you are coming from.
Our location at Eagle County Regional Airport is ideal for new pilot training and a convenient drive from Vail, Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Edwards, Minturn, Avon, and Gypsum, Colorado. Students learning to fly at Eagle Airport will learn mountain flying first hand from our team of professional instructors. Our proximity from Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Rifle and Steamboat Springs provides our students with a diverse selection of airports and challenges ideal for learning safe mountain flying. Learn more about Alpine Flight Training by visiting our website or call us today at 970-401-5105.
Alpine Flight Training is conveniently located at the Eagle County Regional Airport. We a re a short driving distance and the best location of choice for leaning to fly in the Vail Valley, Vail, Beaver Creek, Gypsum, Minturn, Eagle, Avon, and Edwards.
Cross Country in a Diamond DA-20
I recently had the opportunity to reposition our Diamond DA-20 from Baltimore Maryland to the Colorado Rockies. This is a neat little video, traveling over the mountains of Maryland and West Virginia, through Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and right into the Colorado Rockies, ultimately landing in Eagle Colorado.
As the video progresses you'll see the air get clearer and clearer - the haze of the moisture layer from Missouri disappears as we get into Kansas. As we reach Colorado the air is crystal clear and the view is vibrant. The flight through the mountains is probably the best of the footage. As I crossed over Leadville, the density altitude at the field was 12,800, at 13,500 where we were cruising the density altitude as well over 16,000 feet.
If you have interest in flying through the Rockies as we did in this video then I suggest getting formal mountain flying training from a local company like Alpine Flight Training - 970-401-5105.
Cross Country Flying to Colorado Mountains
Take a quick 5 minute journey from Baltimore Maryland across the USA to the Colorado Rockies
I recently had the opportunity to reposition our Diamond DA-20 from Baltimore Maryland to the Colorado Rockies. This is a neat little video, traveling over the mountains of Maryland and West Virginia, through Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and right into the Colorado Rockies, ultimately landing in Eagle Colorado.
As the video progresses you'll see the air get clearer and clearer - the haze of the moisture layer from Missouri disappears as we get into Kansas. As we reach Colorado the air is crystal clear and the view is vibrant. The flight through the mountains is probably the best of the footage. As I crossed over Leadville, the density altitude at the field was 12,800, at 13,500 where we were cruising the density altitude as well over 16,000 feet.
If you have interest in flying through the Rockies as we did in this video then I suggest getting formal mountain flying training from a local company like Alpine Flight Training - 970-401-5105.
Aircraft Rental in Vail Eagle Colorado
Aircraft rental at the Eagle County Regional AirportAlpine Flight Training offers pilot training and aircraft rental in the Vail Valley. Our aircraft is a Diamond DA-20 Eclipse, commonly referred to as a Katana and is the later generation of the tried and true Katana aircraft. The original Diamond DA-20 Katana was equipped with a 90 hp Rotax 912 engine. The Eclipse version we have at Alpine Flight Training is the C1 model equipped with a 125 hp Continental IO-240 that delivers excellent performance especially useful for Mountain Flying. Our Katana Eclipse, with it's larger engine delivers similar takeoff distances as a Cessna 172 SP, but provides superior climb performance, a faster cruise speed, and a fuel burn nearly 1/2 that of the Cessna 172 SP and a slower landing speed. The Katana was originally inspired by european glider design, and also features superior glide performance of 22:1 compared to the 17:1 glide ratio of the Cessna 172 SP as well as excellent visibility through it's bubble canopy design.