Mountain Flying Flashcards
Survive
What is Box Canyon turn?
Gain altitude with any speed above VY
Full power
50 deg aob
Flap1
Drop Nose
Don’t pull more than 2G
What is mathmatical equation relating Load Factor and Stall speed?
Stall ias increase with square root of the load factor i.e. 2 g is 41% more Vs
What are the only two ways to decrease diameter of my turn?
Lower my Tas
Increase my AOB with G
*do a bit of both!
First two notches of Flap give…
More lift than drag
When in the Mountains, how to estimate where the actual horizon is?
Assume it is at the Base of the Mountains about 7 miles ahead.
Need to visualize it (imaginary)
What is a common error when flying Uphill in the Mountains?
ias decay…
Can only consider Box canyon turn if?
Ias above Vy
You should never be under 85kts
Where should you rollout of a Box Canyon turn?
180deg back, nose low, Vy and as you accellerate retract flaps in stages…
At what height (agl) should you practice Canyon Box Turns?
Above 2500’ agl
What is the best practice when approaching a Canyon that slopes steeply upwards?
Gain altitude ‘before’ entering it!
In a wide canyon, you should fly on the _____ side?
Updraft side
if narrow be on downwind side!
What is the safest way to approach a high ridge?
45 deg angle and 2000’ above its height…
When approaching a mountain ridge ontop of a cushion of air (tailwind) will this help?
Usually does, riding upward air.
What are two consequences of winds >20kts at Peak height?
Downdrafts and Turbulence
When are Lee (downwind) side Downdrafts and Turbulence more pronounced (assuming same 20kts wind)?
If the airmass is unstable! usually with Convective clouds present…
Sharper Cliffs
When downwind of a ridge, that you would like to cross, never do so at what angle?
90 deg (perpendicular)
What precaution should you take for approaching a ridge from Downwind side?
Climb 2000’ above it, prior to attempting a crossing.
When I think air is stable, what angle should I approach a Ridge?
Always 45 deg ground track, as mother nature gives you surprises.
Why do you approach ridges at 45 deg angles?
This allows a safer retreat in Severe Turbulence or downdrafts.
Level Turn at 75deg aob will double stall speed because flown at __ G
4g, sqrt of 4 is ‘2’
Prevailings winds are nice, but still deal with Today winds…
Where is the nearest High Pressure system located? Is it strong, how is it moving?
At what distance from ridge should you shift from 90deg to a 45 deg angle?
2000’
1/2 to 1/4 mile away
What i.a. should you adopt if you encounter a dowdraft prior to ridge crossing?
Abort, Turn around and gain altitude a lot!
What i.a. should you adopt if you encounter a dowdraft after crossing the ridge ?
Accellerate (lower nose) from Vy to normal cruise speed, go max power…you will exit the area lower but faster that way…not intuitive!
I must know my expected (zero wind) Rate of Climb based on my weight and current Density altitude.
Tells me if down/up drafts.
At 8000’ density I should be able to manage 400 ROC at Mtow
Maybe…
What is best procedure for crossing multiple ridges?
Go 45 deg left, then right, then left…zig-zag
What is the ‘Two Spots’ method for ridge crossing?
A wag to determine if I will clear the next ridge…pick a far spot, then a close spot (both beyond ridge) then determine if they are getting farther apart = Good!
What is pitfall of two spots method?
Tunnel vision…not noticing a decay in my ias…it takes a lot of crosscheck time…
What does ‘dissappearing’ terrain on the far-side of a ridge tell you?
Turn around, abort, your not going to clear the ridge. RTB and gain some more altitude first…
When there is moisture, any forced ‘rised’ air will form clouds 90deg (i.e. perpendicular) to direction of wind flow…
North /South cloud line found East of a Ridge means winds from the West!
Warm moist air, forced to ascend (via orographic lift) due to winds…allows temp to drop to equal Dew point giving clouds…
Occurs perpendicular to wind path (direction).
What can watching cloud shadows tell you?
Wind direction at the cloud level
When are you certain you can safely cross a ridge?
If I know that ‘if’ I hypothetically put throttle to idle, I would still clear it!
If I could not cross the ridge at idle power…what should I do?
Turn away and gain altitude first.
Should I use the same safe Ridge crossing criteria from Upwind and downwind sides?
Yes
What extra precaution should you take for crossing multiple Ridges?
Be 2000’ above the 1st Ridge
If CB has a line of rotors…
Turn around, cannot go anywhere near those…
Why is it good to fly at Va during Moderate Turbulence?
Because the aircraft will stall prior to exceeding its design structural limit.
What is a good wag of Va?
1.8 x Vs
What is the ‘Ultimate’ load factor?
1.5 times the quotes structural load factor
Normal Category is +3.8g
Ultimate load becomes 5.7g which will crack wings off!
How do you find optimum flap setting for Lift?
Set flaps to be flush with Aileron at full deflection.
Flap Parrallel to Aileron Full down Deflection
What could you do differently when you takeoff without any excess power at high Density altitude?
Only set flaps when at VR
Retract flaps in Ground Effect
Must be proficient!
Spot landing attitude:
Aimpoint between…
Level Flight
3-Point attitude
What is best way to teach Spot landings?
Grease marker
When should you flare?
15’ and never balloon
What is the illusion with rain on windscreen?
We think we are higher than we actually are
Spot landing optimum angle without obstacles/with obs?
3 deg
4.5deg
What ROD expect on 3deg angle?
GS in kts x5
What ROD expect on 4.5deg slope?
GS in kts x8
400+ fpm
Stabilized app less than 500fpm unless still at Mtow and doing 4.5deg slope.
Aimpoint consids
Make 100’ short
Land 160’ beyond it!
Bottom of dash, don’t let it move!
Spot landing grease mark where?
1/2 inch below level flt attitude
Where is mandatory Go-around point?
Point after which I can no longer come safely to a Stop!
Depends on Lda…my g/s, surface, slope
Constant Power & PA =
Constant performance + trim
The very end of a Mountain strip may have a downdraft
Don’t land there.
Lee side of montain top
Trimmed, when add power nose goes?
up
When mountain ridge is below my grease pen ‘Spot Landing’ point, then?
We are higher than the Ridge
Windscreen is a concave arc, we can force land?
Anywhere inside the (imaginary) extended arc of the windscreen.
Minimum airport info I need?
Elevation, Length, Winds, 1-way? Services? Aloud to camp?
At what GA altitude should takeoff be flown with mixture lean?
Anytime above 4000’ D.A.
Normal Recce off-field is how many passes?
Four or Five (20min gaz)
1. Circle for best app/dep trk, winds dir?
2. Length via timer & g/s, Rwy Surface
3. Dumbell, fly lower, diff light obstacles
4. Drag Wheels to see if too soft…
5. Landing (i.e. always the Option)
What side should traffic pattern be flown off-field?
The Side ‘away’ from Terrain
What i.a. should be taken in the event of downdraft after takeoff?
Lower the nose and maintain ias
consider slow flap retraction if no obstacle
What are the steps for figuring out D.A.?
Get psi alt via 29.92 on my altimeter then do Temp correction
What is isa atmosphere in Celsius/Farenheit?
15deg C
59deg F
What happens to my Tora at 5000’ D.A.?
Tora Doubles
What is the Altitude the a/c thinks it’s at called?
D.A.
Each 10 deg F higher than isa 59deg F will increase DA Field Elevation by?
600’
What is ISA lapse rate in Deg F?
-3.5deg F per 1000’
-2deg C
Formula to determine ISA temp at this field?
Field elevation in ‘1000’s’ X 3.5= Y
Then 59-Y= new isa deg F
Safer to fly what approach speed in the mountains?
1.3 Vs to cater for Turbulence, Gusts, W/S, Flare
What is Max AOB in regular Mountain flying?
30deg
In Gusty conditions fly Vapp of?
1.25 Vs +1/2 Gust Factor
Should you vary Ias flown at different Altitudes?
No
What occurs if your Vapp is too slow at 15’agl?
Not enough elevator authority to Flare
What is math relationship between ias and landing distance?
Lda increases with Square of speed increase
If flying at 60 instead of 50kts, what affect on Lda?
20% faster, squared
So Lda is 44% longer!
Should you accept three knots fast on app?
No, +- 1kt
Attitude flying
Maximum safe Glidepath to landing?
4.5deg, usually only over obstacles.
When should you always milk flap-up in Ground effect?
Only when clear of obstacles ahead
Will 2 notches of flap get you airborne earlier?
Probably, but will limit your ROC ability.
What considerations are there for Landing on very Short field?
It will likely be too short to safely takeoff from
Be on speed, don’t land long.
Whats the main point of 30/70 & 50/70
Tora / Vr
To have sufficient room to safely abort on the Runway when you would not have gotten safely airborne!
Does 50/70 rule guarantee sufficient ROC?
Noo
How do you mark the 1/2 way point of my Tora?
Pacing it and Flags
(Surveyor Tape)
Laser range Finder
What Parameters should be considered & recorded on takeoff?
Date, Ac weight,
Elevation, Temp
Wind, Slope
Surface condition
Tora
Obstacles yes/no
When flying in Mountains always remain in a position?
That you can fly towards lower terrain
What is the PNR when flying uphill?
The point where an idle power 180deg turn would NOT hit the ground!
In what regards are taildraggers always more restrictive?
Much lower crosswind limits