Backcountry Pilot

[Supercubber offline]

When referring to the POH of various aircraft for high density altitude performance, all you find are graphs indicating increased takeoff and landing distances. These graphs were made from tests done with new aircraft and engines developing maximum horsepower. Prudent judgement requires that the pilot ad a fudge factor to these performance perimeters to remain safe.

Loading an aircraft to the gills reaching maximum payload in high density altitudes is not very smart, but you will not find any indication, formula or graph in the POH suggesting the pilot lighten his load in these situations.

Summer and hot temps are here folks, use a little common sense. High density altitudes call for flying with a little more finesse, not the ham fisted cranking around you got away with during the winter months.

[qmdv offline]

Well said Supercuber. My POH for the 182B has a take off performance table from paved strips with three different gross weights and altitudes at sea level, 2500, 5000, 7500 ft. Add 10% for each 25 deg F above standard temp.

There is section in the Utah Back Country Pilots site called fly safe. Found this there and I am sure that most have read this article. I reread it when things start heating up. I guess I am a slow learner so I keep trying to pound this in.

Do they keep a statistic on accidents relating to gross weight? Check it out, be safe.


http://www.utahbackcountrypilots.org/sa ... nuID=33~33

Tim (tongue not in cheek)

[Berk offline]

...High density altitudes call for flying with a little more finesse,...

Take-off & climb aren't the only considerations with high density altitude.
A cessna landing after us on the hot, paved, down-slope rwy at Sedona, AZ lately, blew holes in both his mains trying to get stopped before reaching the end of the table-bluff located rwy.
Ground speed is going to be quite a bit faster at an 8,000' + DA. Plan ahead. Have fun, Berk

[Zzz]

Joey posted some good charts in this thread:

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=673

[shorton offline]

I used to love to watch people take off and try to fly out of Challis Id. on a hot summer day. The field is at 5280' and feels twice that high. I have seen people get off the runway and stagger around and around the valley burning off fuel trying to climb high enough to get over the passes, around 7300 or so and finally stagger back to the airport and plop back down. Eventually they do like the local guys and get all their flying done before 10:00 AM

Shane

[retired user offline]

Eventually they do like the local guys and get all their flying done before 10:00 AM

Shane

There in lies the key...

Get it done early or don't do it at all.

Mark