Pagosa Aero Mountain Flying Course
Where better to refine your mountain flying skills than the breathtaking San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado.
Ground School
This will consist of 3 hours of ground training, where you will learn the basics of how to fly in mountainous terrain. Students are taught the fundamentals of performance considerations, developing go-no-go judgment skills, mountain flight planning, and developing confidence for mountain flying.
Mountain Flying
You will have the chance to fly an individually customized mountain flight route. Common destinations include Creede, Telluride, and Salida. There are many other options; the sky is the limit on where you can go.
Both the ground course and flight will incorporate the following topics:
Density altitude and its effects. Learn how to calculate density altitude and the dramatic effect on engine performance, propeller efficiency, and overall degradation of aircraft as altitude increases.
Wind! How it will affect flying in the mountainous terrain, how much altitude to have when approaching a ridge or pass and how the winds aloft will affect that number.
How and when to approach ridges, and canyons.
How to review the flight route options in detail. How wind speed aloft, wind direction and cloud bases influence route selection.
Compute weight and balance and takeoff and landing distances.
What to include in a mountain flying survival pack.
Why maneuvering speed, (VA) is important and how it changes with aircraft gross weight.
Minimum runway lengths and how to establish a point on the departure runway beyond which take-off should be aborted if not airborne.
Procedures for dealing with severe downdrafts and wind shear.
Where to expect turbulence and how to read the clouds to anticipate the severity of the turbulence.
Typical mountain weather patterns.
Determining “Safety Zones” in the mountains.
Looking at the “Big Picture” in making go-no-go decisions.
Given a particular aircraft make, model, and engine and propeller configuration, what kind of mountain flying is safe and what kind to simply avoid?
How much does it cost?
3 hours of Ground School: $99
4 hours of Aircraft Rental ($160/hour)$640
4 hours of Instructor ($60/hour)$240
Total $979
These prices are just an estimate. Actual costs will vary on an individual basis depending on different learning styles and the proficiency and preparation of the pilot, as well as, the type of aircraft and length of flight.
