I'm doing a mountain checkout with my favorite CFI in a couple weeks. I'm flying either a 172 or 182, probably landing at Auburn, Nyack, Truckee, South Lake Tahoe and Alpine County airports. All are paved runways.

I've reviewed my club's mountain checkout packet, which includes basic lessons about high-DA operations, survival kits, and the like. I'm also reading Sparky's Mountain Flying Bible. Can anyone suggest any additional preparations I should make? I really want to get the most of this checkout.

Is your favorite CFI a real mountain pilot or another wannabe flatlander?

If he is a real mountain pilot then you should be asking him, if he isnt save your money.....

You show your local as SF Bay Area. These guys are based out of STS. If you can get some dual with Art Hayssen and attend one of their seminars, they are pretty good.

http://www.northcoastair.com/Instruction.htm

I tend to agree with Mr. Scout in principle. Even if I do go by Wannabe.

I have, over the last approx. 40+ yrs., belonged to as many as five flying clubs at one time between San Carlos to San Jose and ovet to the old Fremont strips. The real problem with evey one of the alleged Mtn. Flying check rides that I have taken, or ridden along with, is that they are really nothing more than a High Altitude - Densitity Altitude check ride, mostly for insurance purposes. Still a good thing to do, but NOT really Mtn. flying. Things could be a bit better these days.

Mostly they teach how to fly OVER the mountains, and not IN them.

The closest to a Mntn. strip will be the Alpine County.
Might as well add Hangtown - Placerville to the list on your way home.

Whatever you do, do not try to equate a, (usual), High Sierra high altitude check ride with flying IN the mountains.

My first real exposure did not come until I went to the first, that I know of, Mountain Flying Seminar in McCall Idaho back in Oct. of 1983. It was organized and put on by the local 99s chapter with Lyn Clark and Sparky Imeson. Skip Stoffel also did a thurough survival seminar at the same time. Art Lazzarini was also teaching there at that time.

About your survival gear. If you ain't wearing it, you may not be able to get to it. Any thing in the back of the plane is camping gear more than survival gear.

PM me if ya want any additional input from a senior member of the Old Fahrtz Fliers and Liers Club.

I ditto what Mr. Scout and Wannabe are telling you. A mountain check ride by a flatlander who has been teaching for a couple of years does not qualify one to fly in mountains and or canyons. I also recommend Art Lazzarini in Haley, Idaho if you really want to learn about flying in mountains and your own capabilities. It is always a good idea to fly with different instructors. IMHO teaching is a gift some have and others well! just don't have the gift.
There is a lot more to Mountain/ Canyon flying then DA. It is an entirely different technique from sea level flight. The bottom line get instructions from Art or someone who teaches the subject year in year out. You won't be sorry and you will be a better pilot.

Come up to Truckee and hire a CFI here.

You will get good local beta on the mountains and they do it daily.

You can PM me for some digits if you like.

There is alos a lot of experience on this forum that I am certain would fly with you if you choose.

Stay away from the suit and tie CFI.....

Good luck....

als wrote:I'm doing a mountain checkout with my favorite CFI in a couple weeks. I'm flying either a 172 or 182, probably landing at Auburn, Nyack, Truckee, South Lake Tahoe and Alpine County airports. All are paved runways.

I've reviewed my club's mountain checkout packet, which includes basic lessons about high-DA operations, survival kits, and the like. I'm also reading Sparky's Mountain Flying Bible. Can anyone suggest any additional preparations I should make? I really want to get the most of this checkout.

If you can get the 182, I'd use it rather than the 172!

Also, take the advice from the guys mentioned above, they seem to know what they're talking about .

Good luck! Pat.

I would differ with 58 only slightlly.

Save the 182 for when you feel ready to go back with passengers.
I would take my first trip with only an instructor in the 172.

Couple of reasons:
One of my first Mtn. flying safety items is that I cut the number of seats in half. Took the back seat out of my 170. It does have an Atlee Dodge right side jump seat just in case some one needs a "ride out". Also you do not need the burden of passengers in the back during what could be a turbulent and stiff learning process. They have been known to puke down the back of one's neck. It is also hard to decide which one gets to take the bus home if the density altitude gets too bad.

The prime reason is that the 172, even up to the newer more powerful ones will give you a much better APPRECIATION - PREVIEW for the EFFECTS of density altiude, and how it can actually cause a sickening - sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. The 182 will usually "power out" of most of what you might encounter on an inititial High Altitude check ride. Could leave ya overconfident.

Above all first be safe, and GO EARLY.

Who says you have to go with an instructor? By all means use one if they really are mountain flying proficient. But if they aren't you are wasting your time. Find somebody who flies in the mountains a lot, who cares if they are an actual instructor?

als wrote:I'm doing a mountain checkout with my favorite CFI in a couple weeks. I'm flying either a 172 or 182, probably landing at Auburn, Nyack, Truckee, South Lake Tahoe and Alpine County airports. All are paved runways.

I've reviewed my club's mountain checkout packet, which includes basic lessons about high-DA operations, survival kits, and the like. I'm also reading Sparky's Mountain Flying Bible. Can anyone suggest any additional preparations I should make? I really want to get the most of this checkout.

Noticed in your profile it said "Student Pilot" if this is true wait until you get your private and 200+ hours and join one of the Mountain Flying Seminars
in McCall Idaho or near there. With a Mountain "Checkout" by your favorite
CFI is not enough to be safe. Just recently here near Las Vegas ( 4th of July) we had a 100hr pilot drive into the side of Mt. Charlstion and killing all aboard.

The bay area clubs require a checkout to fly one of their planes to higher altitude airports and they refer to this as a mountain flying checkout which is probably misnamed; but there is relevant information.

I wound up nibbling at the elephant. I too read Sparky Imeson and tried to prepare, but the sheer enjoyment of flying above the Toulomne to Lee Vining ...

I chose a 182 and carried oxygen just because I wanted outs of power and altitude. Running up at max power and leaning to get it definitely gave this flatlander a slap.

rjb wrote:The bay area clubs require a checkout to fly one of their planes to higher altitude airports and they refer to this as a mountain flying checkout which is probably misnamed; but there is relevant information.

I wound up nibbling at the elephant. I too read Sparky Imeson and tried to prepare, but the sheer enjoyment of flying above the Toulomne to Lee Vining ...

I chose a 182 and carried oxygen just because I wanted outs of power and altitude. Running up at max power and leaning to get it definitely gave this flatlander a slap.

You're right, that's not a mountain checkout. Does the plane you fly have either an engine monitor or a digital EGT? If so then click the link and see how simple mixture management is. When the page loads click on Target EGT and download the Powerpoint.

http://www.advancedpilot.com/assist.html

wannabe wrote: The prime reason is that the 172, even up to the newer more powerful ones will give you a much better APPRECIATION - PREVIEW for the EFFECTS of density altiude, and how it can actually cause a sickening - sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. The 182 will usually "power out" of most of what you might encounter on an inititial High Altitude check ride. Could leave ya overconfident.

This is very, very, good advise. The purpose for the Mountain/Insurance checkout is to demonstrate the affects of density altitude (the accident database demostrates why insurance companies require this). A Skylane at 6,000 MSL, even on a hot day, with just a pilot & CFI will not do this. There is still too much excess thrust.
I moved from Iowa (where I learned to fly) to Sacramento in 1984 and immediately joined the Natomas Flying Club. Of course I wanted to go fly in the mountains, but needed the Mountain Checkout. The club had both a 172 & a 182, but the chief pilot required mountain checkouts be in the 172. I have a very vivid memory of the long take off roll and flat climb attitude flying out of Truckee, it really made an impression on me.

I’m new to the Husky with just over 100 hours in the A-1B; 1400 hours total pilot time. Mountain flight instruction is on the to-do list for this summer. Home base is in New Hampshire and I’m not aware of a Mountain Flight program on the East Coast.
I have a trip to Colorado Springs planned for September. Any one have a recommendation on a good school or instructor in Colorado?
Steve

Steve,

I sent you a PM with a bunch of info and my contact information about doing a mountain checkout.

Bill Murrish

swestland wrote:I’m new to the Husky with just over 100 hours in the A-1B; 1400 hours total pilot time. Mountain flight instruction is on the to-do list for this summer. Home base is in New Hampshire and I’m not aware of a Mountain Flight program on the East Coast.
I have a trip to Colorado Springs planned for September. Any one have a recommendation on a good school or instructor in Colorado?
Steve

Steve, bmurrish that just posted above is my recommendation, he did my checkout here out of Colorado Springs. We even went into Leadville and I got my certificate for landing there from the airport.