Description
What to Expect
Ground Instruction: up to 3 hours
Our Mountain Flying Course includes a one-on-one, two to three hour ground session during which pilots will learn the fundamental requirements of Rocky Mountain Flying.
- Performance Considerations
- Developing Go/No-Go Judgment Skills
- Mountain Flight Planning
- Mountain Weather
- Mountain-Related Emergencies
We also highly recommend reading Mountain Flying by Sparky Imeson, which can be purchased through Quest Pilot Supplies.
The Flight: up to 5 hours
Each student will schedule a four to five hour flight. The standard route we like to use covers a variety of different mountainous terrain and usually provides a variety of conditions and opportunities for learning. As graduates of the course well know, flying in the mountains often requires a change of plans, so each individual lesson’s path may differ significantly.
Usually, the flight leaves Meadow Lake for Salida, then turns north from Salida toward Aspen via Hagerman Pass. From Aspen the flight may venture out to Glenwood Springs. From Glenwood Springs, if the valley isn’t filled with fog and time permits, a stop at Eagle will precede a break at Leadville. After receiving a certificate for landing at the highest airport in the U.S, a jump over two more passes will bring the course to a close in Colorado Springs.
The planes we typically use for this course are our C172 R, P and XP models, N9895F, 62740 and N1025V. The extra power in these planes are better suited for learning to fly in the mountains. Additional costs for using our C182s.
If you are interested in completing this course in your own aircraft, please reach out to us! We would be glad to work with you.