For more than a century, pilots have been intrigued by the challenges of
flight in the highest mountains and the deepest canyons on every
continent. Mountain, Canyon, and Backcountry Flying allows pilots to
get off the beaten path and enjoy the outdoors. It opens up a whole new
world of recreation, including airplane camping, hiking, fishing, and
staying at guest lodges or bush camps in areas without roads or easy
access by land or water.
Flying in these enticing environments often entails operations over
relatively inaccessible terrain in a challenging and sometimes
unforgiving environment. This necessitates the proper mindset,
discipline, and procedures to operate efficiently and safely. Operating
over mountains, navigating through canyons, taking off and landing on
unimproved, high-altitude airstrips in confined areas, and maximizing
airplane performance requires specialized skills. The authors and guest
writers share information and tips gleaned from more than 150 years and
100,000 hours of collective experience as professional mountain and
backcountry pilots and flight instructors.
Recreational pilots to mountain flying instructors will find this book
useful, and college and university professors can use the text to
supplement their classroom instruction. Fundamental concepts include
preparing for and conducting mountain and canyon flights, airport
operations, situational awareness, aircraft performance, risk
management, and emergency operations. Analysis of accident scenarios,
accounts from the authors' own experiences, and contributions from
seasoned backcountry pilots and instructors expand on material detailed
in the text. Each chapter includes exercises to help the reader
understand and apply the information to their own flying, and beautiful
color illustrations will inspire pilots to seek out these awe-inspiring
destinations.
