Free Flight Planning and Mountain flying
Brian Shirley said:
Some time back I found a site for flight planning that gave enroute terrain. Does anyone know this site. Im going from SW Kan to Cortez, CO and want to stop in Telluride for lunch. Thanks Brian Shirley
You are probably talking about flying across the southern Rockies? I flew a lot in that area but IFR. The MEA's (low alt airway min altitude) are in the 13,000 to 15,000 feet range, some of the highest in the country.
Four routes from SW Kansas across Rockies to CEZ Cortez/TEX Telluride in my opinion:
-Direct at 12,000-14,000 feet (2000 feet above peaks min)
-Thru mountain pass Cimarron VOR (Steven Pagosa Springs, CO) 11,000-12,000 feet Direct CEZ
-More Southern pass (Angle Fire - Taos, NM) *9,500-11,000 feet
-Northern route going to TEX first - GUC Gunnison Pass and PUB Pueblo Co. TEX is over 9,000 feet, don't forget to land and takeoff leaned! Here is a site discussing this route
http://www.dpejim.com/mountain_flying_training.htm
* The pass routes may let you go lower, but this is a conservative est to keep you at or above nearby terrain.
I don't know your flying experience but assume you want to fly VFR. Also I don't know how comfortable you are flying the pass with nearby terrain above your flying altitude by a 1000-3000 feet or more. It is fun but there are cautions.
If you don't know much about mountain flying you should check out some books or videos. Here are some common rules:
Rule one, VFR. Sounds dumb but flying low thru a pass with low ceilings and visability is a disaster waiting to happen. Winds aloft, if they are more than 20 to 30 kt within 2000 feet above peak terrain, plan on not going for reasons of turbulence and wind shear. Also plan on flying 2000 feet over terrain (peaks). Also early in the morning is best, when it's calm. Leave your self room to turn around, fly one side of the pass. There are up/down drafts in the pass/valley, based on winds aloft and sun, fly the updraft side or right hand side as a default. Cross ridges at an approx 45 degree angle, in case you need to turn away you can, and of course beware of
density altitude.
If you choose to fly LOW thru the pass following a road, be very aware of your postion. A wrong turn can get you into a blind narrowing cannon/valley with rising terrain. You can't out climb it or turn around. It happens. I prefer to fly the pass at an altitude near the peak terrain elevation, unless I know the pass well. That is not really flying the pass, but it does afford more room to turn around and better view for visual nav, pilotage. You also can straighten the route out a little. Don't rely on GPS alone, keep your chart and eyes out. Also be careful cables get stretched across canyons on occasion. I do recommend flying a route that gives you a place to land like a pass or road, however get a VFR flight plan filed and opened. Also update you postion along the flight with the local FSS. You can forget radar flight following unless you are at very high altitudes, say 13,000 feet or more, but it does not hurt to check.
Here is are google sites that I thought where nice:
http://www.net-magic.net/users/gordo55j/mountain.htm
http://www.nw.faa.gov/ats/zdvartcc/high_mountain/dodont.html
Here is a very complete on-line course on mountain flying lesson
http://www.mountainflying.com/flying_info_1.htm
(click on hyper-link lessons. This is by Sparky Imeson who has book on mountain flying.)
Other info:
http://mountaincfi.com/public/blog/81358
(lots of links some very good)
If you read all the above and plan well, pick good condition you will find it routine and enjoyable. Don't discount density altitude. We are us to excellent performance in our RV's but at gross and high hot conditions we can run out of steam like any plane.
FREE FLIGHT PLANNING
Hey Brian have you tried the on line FREE flight planning programs? You may or may not know about, here are my favorites for you and others who might be interested.
If you are a EAA or AOPA member there are some nice programs that will do a very nice job for you.
DUAT, FAA weather and basic flt log planner (free)
https://www.duat.com/
AOPA, membership needed, other info on site is free, like TFR:
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html
AirNav (free) Detailed airport data and fuel prices
http://www.airnav.com/airports/
FAA: (free)
TFR:
http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
Special use airspace
http://sua.faa.gov/sua/Welcome.do
Flight Planning:
http://www.fltplan.com/ (free)
NOAA (free weather)
http://aviationweather.gov/
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/radar_tab.php
NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research (free detailed weather)
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/
CFI hat is off, that was fun.
