Direct To Aviation Flight Training - Mountain Flying Course

MOUNTAIN FLYING SYLLABUS

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Develop awareness of weather considerations related to flight over mountainous and rough terrain
Recognize potential flight hazards
Interpret weather service products

Develop ability to plan and execute flights
Read and interpret maps and charts
Employ dead reconning and pilotage to correctly identify position
Estimate inflight visibility
Estimate wind direction and velocity

Safely fly through mountainous terrain
Predict airflow patterns, updrafts, downdrafts, turbulence based on time of day, winds aloft and surface observations.
Interpret inflight weather indications
Employ proper techniques for crossing ridges and passes
Execute escape maneuvers

Safely fly to and from mountain airports
Achieve sufficient proficiency to safely takeoff and land on short, rough, obstructed airports
Estimate effects of runway slope and condition, headwind, tailwind, crosswind, density altitude, weight and balance on aircraft performance
Develop decision making skills for use in complex situations

COURSE PREQUISITES:
Private pilot license or better
Airplane single engine land rating
100 hours as pilot, recommended
Current medical certificate
Current biennial flight review

LESSON SCHEDULE:
Introduction to Terrain Flying: 3:20
Performance Flying and Escape Maneuvers: 3:30
Terrain Navigation and Flight Planning: 3:25
Mountain Cross Country Flight: 3:10
Training Total: 13:25 Ground: 6:20 Flight: 7:05

COURSE SUMMARY:

Ground Training Flight Training Written Test Practical Application

Pilot knowledge, experience and proficiency considerations
Decision making skills and factors
Environment
Weather
Terrain Considerations
Obstructions
Times of Day
Airspace Rules (FAR/AIM)
Threats: Winds > 20kts, TCU, Turbulence, Obstructions, Hot, High, Humid, Heavy
Operations: Short, Soft, Rough, Wet, Obstructed, Uphill, Downhill,
Headwinds, Tailwinds, Crosswinds, Gusts, Variability,
Dragging, Approaches, Escape Maneuvers
Equipment: Airplane, POH, Maps, Emergency, Survival
Planning: Preflight, Route Selection, Contingencies
Execution: Checkpoints, Dead Reconning, Pilotage, Estimates,
Diversions, Guard Frequency, Radio Relay
Short field takeoffs and landings
Soft field takeoffs and landings
Forward and side slips to landings
Spot landings with and without power
Crosswind takeoffs and landings
Combinations of the above
Flight at minimum controllable airspeed
Stalls and recoveries
Steep spirals
Chandelles
Steep power turns
Box canyon turns
Terrain flying
Non radio navigation
Emergency procedures
Mountain cross country operations
open book with instructor review to 100% level
Flight maneuvers to commercial pilot practical test standard competency level
Flight through mountainous terrain including turbulence avoidance, ridge and pass crossings
Flight to and from an unpaved mountain airport
Positional awareness and accurate navigation
Situational awareness including diversions and selections of emergency landing sites

Ground Training	Flight Training	Written Test	Practical Application
Pilot knowledge, experience and proficiency considerations Decision making skills and factors Environment Weather Terrain Considerations Obstructions Times of Day Airspace Rules (FAR/AIM) Threats: Winds > 20kts, TCU, Turbulence, Obstructions, Hot, High, Humid, Heavy Operations: Short, Soft, Rough, Wet, Obstructed, Uphill, Downhill, Headwinds, Tailwinds, Crosswinds, Gusts, Variability, Dragging, Approaches, Escape Maneuvers Equipment: Airplane, POH, Maps, Emergency, Survival Planning: Preflight, Route Selection, Contingencies Execution: Checkpoints, Dead Reconning, Pilotage, Estimates, Diversions, Guard Frequency, Radio Relay	Short field takeoffs and landings Soft field takeoffs and landings Forward and side slips to landings Spot landings with and without power Crosswind takeoffs and landings Combinations of the above Flight at minimum controllable airspeed Stalls and recoveries Steep spirals Chandelles Steep power turns Box canyon turns Terrain flying Non radio navigation Emergency procedures Mountain cross country operations	open book with instructor review to 100% level	Flight maneuvers to commercial pilot practical test standard competency level Flight through mountainous terrain including turbulence avoidance, ridge and pass crossings Flight to and from an unpaved mountain airport Positional awareness and accurate navigation Situational awareness including diversions and selections of emergency landing sites

Reference Materials:
Microbursts - A Handbook For Visual Identification, F. Caracena, R. L. Holle, and C. A. Doswell III
AIM / FAR
FAA-P-8740-2, Density Altitude - Excerpt
FAA-P-8740-5, Weight and Balance, An Important Safety Consideration for Pilots - Excerpt
FAA-P-8740-13, Engine Operation for Pilots - Excerpt
FAA-P-8740-60, Tips on Mountain Flying - Excerpt
Safety Pamphlets
FAA Accident Prevention Program, The Impossible Turn, U.S. DOT
FAA Accident Prevention Program, Wind Shear, U.S. DOT
FAA Advisory Circulars
AC 61-23C, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
AC 91-13C COLD WEATHER OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT (07-24-79)
AC 91-51A EFFECT OF ICING ON AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND AIRPLANE DEICE AND ANTI-ICE SYSTEMS (07-17-96)
AC 00-6A AVIATION WEATHER (03-03-75)
AC 00-24B THUNDERSTORMS (01-20-83)
AC 00-30B ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE AVOIDANCE (09-09-97)
AC 00-45E AVIATION WEATHER SERVICES (Rvsd12-99)
AC 00-54 PILOT WINDSHEAR GUIDE (11-25-88)
AC 00-57 HAZARDOUS MOUNTAIN WINDS AND THEIR VISUAL INDICATORS (09-10-97) (in 5 parts) 1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5
AC 20-35C TIEDOWN SENSE (07-12-83)
AC 20-125 WATER IN AVIATION FUELS (12-10-85)
Turbulence a new perspective for pilots - Peter F. Lester - Jeppesen
The Advanced Pilots Flight Manual - Kershner, William K.
Northwest Mountain Region, Denver ARTCC, High Mountain Flying In Ski Country U.S.A.
MountainFlying.com

Develop awareness of weather considerations related to flight over mountainous and rough terrain	Recognize potential flight hazards Interpret weather service products
Develop ability to plan and execute flights	Read and interpret maps and charts Employ dead reconning and pilotage to correctly identify position Estimate inflight visibility Estimate wind direction and velocity
Safely fly through mountainous terrain	Predict airflow patterns, updrafts, downdrafts, turbulence based on time of day, winds aloft and surface observations. Interpret inflight weather indications Employ proper techniques for crossing ridges and passes Execute escape maneuvers
Safely fly to and from mountain airports	Achieve sufficient proficiency to safely takeoff and land on short, rough, obstructed airports Estimate effects of runway slope and condition, headwind, tailwind, crosswind, density altitude, weight and balance on aircraft performance Develop decision making skills for use in complex situations