Mountain Flying Safety and Flight Standards
There are numerous articles and books on Mountain Flying. My interest is safe flight and I build background on safety information and let you decide what you want to accomplish.
Declaring an Emergency and What You Should Do!
Lets start with the worst possible event. If an engine fails, you can't turn back because there isn't room enough or your completely boxed in by weather and you know you have to land somewhere - it is time to declare an emergency!
Once that is done you must land under control - as best you can.
Engine Failure
You can and should, before the above happens, practice sudden engine failure. Do this with an instructor. Try to memorize the items because a real emergency doesn't leave you time to pull out your emergency plastic cards to read in your spare time.
You need to pick out a place to land. Fly the airplane. Turn the plane, if you can, toward lower terrain. It may allow you a little more time to search for a place to set down. If you can glide a good distance it may be warmer. Weather in mountains is chilly.
In the worst case scenario what if there aren't any roads? With your altitude gain, if possible, try landing uphill. It will reduce rollout and, if the terrain is rugged, prevent you from sliding off a precipice.
If your into Ecology or Forestry your may know what lies below you to crash into the trees. Most forests, if your below the tree line (10,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level.) The tall evergreen trees await you and, possibly, a few Aspen. (the Aspen are beautiful trees that turn golden in the Fall. Always try to crash in the Fall. It is beautiful.:):)
The Aspen is smaller and you can slowly bring the aircraft to a stall just above the tops of the aspen trees. Hauling the nose upward you may have some motion straight ahead but, in a quick stall, slide backward a bit and let the plane settle into the tree tops. It may save you life if you practice this stunt before you really have to perform.
Well, you need something to put under your cup of Joe when you explain your successful landing stunt!
Be sure to tighten your seat belt and open the cabin door a bit. Crashes have a bad habit of jamming the doors.
If you have time switch off fuel tanks and cut the ignition. Fires are not well received after a crash.
Once down get everybody out of the plane as quick as possible. Attend to anyone who is injured right away.
Declaring an Emergency and What You Should Do!
Lets start with the worst possible event. If an engine fails, you can't turn back because there isn't room enough or your completely boxed in by weather and you know you have to land somewhere - it is time to declare an emergency!
Once that is done you must land under control - as best you can.
Engine Failure
You can and should, before the above happens, practice sudden engine failure. Do this with an instructor. Try to memorize the items because a real emergency doesn't leave you time to pull out your emergency plastic cards to read in your spare time.
You need to pick out a place to land. Fly the airplane. Turn the plane, if you can, toward lower terrain. It may allow you a little more time to search for a place to set down. If you can glide a good distance it may be warmer. Weather in mountains is chilly.
In the worst case scenario what if there aren't any roads? With your altitude gain, if possible, try landing uphill. It will reduce rollout and, if the terrain is rugged, prevent you from sliding off a precipice.
If your into Ecology or Forestry your may know what lies below you to crash into the trees. Most forests, if your below the tree line (10,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level.) The tall evergreen trees await you and, possibly, a few Aspen. (the Aspen are beautiful trees that turn golden in the Fall. Always try to crash in the Fall. It is beautiful.:):)
The Aspen is smaller and you can slowly bring the aircraft to a stall just above the tops of the aspen trees. Hauling the nose upward you may have some motion straight ahead but, in a quick stall, slide backward a bit and let the plane settle into the tree tops. It may save you life if you practice this stunt before you really have to perform.
Well, you need something to put under your cup of Joe when you explain your successful landing stunt!
If the flying is too scary above you may try a straight in crash into the more flexible Aspen grove that can absorb the force of the crash without too much damage.
Be sure to tighten your seat belt and open the cabin door a bit. Crashes have a bad habit of jamming the doors.
If you have time switch off fuel tanks and cut the ignition. Fires are not well received after a crash.
Once down get everybody out of the plane as quick as possible. Attend to anyone who is injured right away.
