Pikes Peak Record Setting Landing Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq1Ii7bCRZk

This is the record setting landing at 14,110 feet this summer by Mark Young. Where was the wind from, how did he use the terrain to his advantage? How would you make the approach? What are some factors to consider?

Stable Vs Unstable?

So...

For the purposes of mountain flight, what is more desireable? Is a stable air mass better than unstable? Are there situations where this might change? Instructors, feel free to lead them along.

What constitutes mountain flight?

Several of you have asked what constitutes mountain time. I located some information in one of the Jeppeson flight manuals. According to ICAO is an area of changing terrain where the changes of terrain elevation exceed 3000 feet within a distance of 10 NM.

In preparation for the upcoming weather module:

You check the weather and have -

unstable air aloft, ground winds at 25 knots across your route
wind blowing from the 201 degrees across the rockies
very stable, moist air aloft

Will you see clouds? What kind?
What kind of ride will you have enroute?
Are there any specific dangers that will you need to be aware of?
Can you use these conditions to your advantage? How?
Go or no go?

Add another unstable layer of air above that stable air layer, how does that change things?

Today's weather

Check out today's mountain weather, very interesting. Started out this morning with smooth air, not a bump in the sky. Flew over the Rampart and had the typical low level updrafts from the terrain. The lakes were glassy smooth (that's right they are frozen). By my return at 10 am had high level lenticulars and moderate turbulence over the Rampart.

At 4 pm we had high level lenticulars, stratus, and a very distict inversion layer over the city.

Good mountain flying or bad mountain flying? Forcast winds were 17 knots at 12,000. Ground speed over the Rampart was 170 eastbound.

Those lenticulars, high cirrus turning into stratus to the west and the inversion layer - what does the next 12 - 24 hours hold in store for the savy mountain pilot? Staying home or surfin the winds?

Mountain flying students - any ideas?

LTE

We pick this accident apart every mountain course. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHinFTxLVss

Ideas??? Obviously LTE

Welcome!

Welcome to helicopter mountain flying. Feel free to discuss ideas, mountain accidents, ask questions and share knowledge. Please do not use foul language and refrain from inflammatory remarks toward other bloggers.

- enjoy