Mountain Flying Fixed Wing (English)

Video made to help Fixed-wing pilots understand the basics of mountain flying. This is part of private pilot training in many countries but was overlooked in New Zealand for many years, because they are so sure their training is world class they wouldn't bother looking around to see how others do it. After years of recording accidents resulting from not applying basic common sense during mountain flying, the NZ CAA decided in 2011 to incorporate some kind of theory into their PPL syllabus and made this very good quality video. Those who understand best mountain flying are sailglider pilots, and as usual there isn't a word about them in this video, showing that powered aircraft pilots keep reinventing the wheel. The best training a powered aircraft pilot could get would be to go to the nearest sailglider club and do some hours, instead of spending more fuel to get some very limited mountain flying experience using his Cessna to cross a few valleys. The mountain flying syllabus now part of the NZ PPL is going to be delivered by...powered aircraft instructors, usually themselves young and pretty inexperienced, and most of them having no experience in mountain flying, so even if the NZ CAA is showing good intentions, in the end it is a lot of gesticulating: just put some sailglider flying into your aviation life. The video is very well put together nonetheless and the quality of the images in this beautiful scenery is making the film worth watching.

[@azcountry6064]

Excellent information. As I fly in the Sierra's, with many mountains in excess of 12,500 ft and several pushing 14,000 ft, this is very useful information.

[@wesd1830]

However, if I were to force a landing in only partially snow topped terrain, I would most likely choose a lower valley or clearing near the base of a hill (all the while getting a good sight picture of my surroundings early in the descent). Of course, the lower terrain provides these added benefits: 1)warmer, 2) more likely to locate moving water, and 3) more opportunity to build fire and shelter. Thanks to all for allowing my 2 cents...great video!!!

[@Timmay46]

Excellent, easy to understand, common sense instruction. Well done, thank you.

[@claudelependu5240]

From Utah I can appreciate this nice video. It's informative and very important. Nice scenery and accent too. My Cheetah Cat and I thank you.

[@wesd1830]

Well done gentlemen and ladies...as a career International Ferry Pilot (in mostly light aircraft), I have spent thousands of hours practicing the very techniques that you teach in this intro to mountain flying. Might I ad one small, important, and often overlooked, bit of basics to the

[@malcolmp5245]

Great instructional well made video. Thanks for all the useful information.

[@wesd1830]

This will allow me (the victim) the opportunity to maintain better situational awareness as to my surroundings. Such as: eyesight of towns, roads, spotting and signaling approaching aircraft, and better VHF reception in the event that you still have a Comm radio.

[@caspertghost2176]

Great video, very informative...currently mountain flying in the Pyrenees, Southern France.

[@ClaudioPedrazzi]

Thanks for sharing. Very well done and informative

[@wesd1830]

"Emergency Procedures" section: As with any flight, I am particularly aware of my terrain when preplanning a forced landing. For instance: if I am traveling along snow covered glaciers or mountains, such as 37:30, I would likely choose to force the landing along a long, up sloping ridge at a higher elevation.

[@scottbradley5482]

Nice video. I noticed that sometimes the plane is flying with 1-notch of flaps and other times the flaps are up. How should I include managing the flaps while mountain flying? oops. I got the answer at 20:30. Thanks for the help.

[@zulukilocharlie]

Great video! Ka pai!

[@pierremergon]

nice video