Mountain Flying Essay

300 Words2 Pages
Mountain Flying Mountain flying allows pilots to reach new and exciting destinations while providing adventures and challenges that most flatlanders will never know. As with any new flying adventure, there are also unique risks, most associated with either unforgiving terrain or high density altitude. Higher density altitude means thinner air. For pilots high density altitude means seriously degraded aircraft performance. Density altitude is true altitude adjusted for non-standard temperature and pressure. At high density altitudes, it’s common for non-turbocharged airplanes to climb at only 200 or 300 feet-per-minute. There are many ways to determine density altitude. It is often included on automated weather recordings (ASOS or AWOS) and shown on “density altitude thermometers” at airports. You can also calculate density altitude with your flight computer, or even with simple math: density altitude increases approximately 120 feet for every one degree Celsius the temperature is above standard. Higher density altitudes also require a longer takeoff roll. When calculating the required takeoff distance, be sure to read the notes in the pilot’s operating handbook that refer to items like tailwind conditions and runway surface. It’s also good to always have an abort point so you can stop on the remaining runway if the airplane is not accelerating properly. Flying at higher density altitudes requires attention to detail. Most pilots are good at calculating takeoff and landing distances, but many get into serious trouble by forgetting to calculate the climb performance they will experience after takeoff. At a respectable climb rate of 300 feet-per-minute, for instance, it will take more than three minutes just to climb to the common traffic pattern altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level. Around mountain airports, this climb rate may not be enough to clear the
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