finding mountain passes for flight planning?

Check winds before you fly. Often times the downdraft in those passes
can exceed your climb performance.

-Robert

ET wrote:
"Rob" wrote:
ET wrote:
Yup, I "think" the only way around for a Sport Pilot is El Paso... If
there is another (better) one, I'd like to know about it.... I'm
attempting to plan a sport pilot CC from SNA to OSH....

I got through between Albuquerque and Santa Fe just fine in a Cessna
150 a couple of summers ago. Go early in the morning and keep a close
eye on density altitude as it relates to terrain elevation, airplane's
service ceiling, and your desired/required height above terrain.

K, but we are talking about a Sport Pilot flying the route (with all
airspace signoffs).... A Sport Pilot cannot fly over 10,000msl, period.

I don't believe I was over 10,000msl that day. I flew from Albuq Intl.
(elev. 5355) to Clayton, NM Muni. (Elev. 4965). Taking a quick look at
the sectional, it looks like the highest terrain on my route was around
6500 or so near the town of Cerrillos, NM, just a bit south of Santa Fe
..

-R

Peter Duniho wrote:
Anyway, as far as finding mountain passes go, they are pretty apparent when
you actually look at a sectional. They are where the terrain goes down
between two high spots. Some are named, and of course the larger the
pass the more likely it is to be a reasonable and safe way through the
mountain range. Note: something that looks like a pass but which leads to
higher terrain rather than lower is called a dead-end. Don't fly down
those.

All too true...For example, Independence Pass goes to/from Leadville, CO
the Aspen. However, there NO way out if something goes wrong. As a rule,
Never Never Never fly thru Independence Pass.

That said, you may want to consider focusing on routes that take you over
the interstate highways. They tend to cross the mountains in the easiest
areas, as well as keep you near civilization in case things don't go quite
as you'd hoped.

Most of the time, this is true. I-80 or I-40 are both great routes
thru the ROckies. However I-70 over the Rockies thru Colorado is a NO-NO.
From Denver to Vail, there are really no "outs" if something goes
wrong. Even the I-70 road isn't straight enough to land most
of the time. On the other hand, the traffic is SO BAD, that you'll
just land on top of an SUV and that'll take you right to Vail.
Of course it'll be a problem going thru the tunnel....

Chris Schmelzer wrote:
(Blanche Cohen) wrote:

In Colorado, check out

www.coloradopilots.org

And if you need to ask about passes, perhaps you should take a
high-altitude airport/mountain flying course?



He didn't ASK about mountain flying courses!

What, you take a mountain flying course and get a secret book that lists
all the passes for a given route?

Actually, the CPA's website lists the mountain passes and indicates
which are viable, and which aren't.

There's also a map issued by the Colorado DOT/Aviation that is
an unofficial sectional with recommended routes (not valid for
navigational purposes, of course). I know that New Mexico has
a similar map. I like NM's better, because it also identifies the
military flight routes (jets, helicopters, heavy haulers, etc)
along with altitudes.

Out Here, a Pass has a road thru it. A Gap is usually hiking or
trail.

YMMV -- I can drive over Berthoud Pass (and ski, if there's
enough snow) but there's no way I can drive over Durant Gap.

And here's the "disclaimer" from the CPA website:
----------------
The list of gaps came from source 1 which combined passes and non-pass gaps,
listing all as gaps. Those appearing in the List of Gaps are not passes
(saddles on a ridge), but are narrow passages, often of a stream or road,
and were determined by inspection of the 7.5 minute USGS map.

The List of Passes in Colorado without Official names contains passes I have
discovered on maps or in person but could find no label, so have chosen
a name from a nearby topographic feature.
(NOTE: the "I" refers to the person who created the list of Passes & Gaps)

The List of Passes in Colorado without complete information contains passes
which are named, but which I have not yet been able to locate precisely.
-----------------

Hope this helps.

Cub Driver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote:
On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 15:43:29 GMT, (Ron Lee)
wrote:

Can a Sport Pilot fly over Independence Pass?

One web source places the altitude at 12095 feet. You tell me if your
aircraft and any possible sport pilot restrictions makes that
realistic.

10,000 feet is Sport Pilot limit.

Funny to think that Independence "Pass" is actually higher than the
Sundeck on Aspen Mountain (Ajax to those who love it). No wonder my
poor Beetle was puffing.

As I recall, Loveland Pass (the old road from Denver to Glenwood
Springs, now bypassed or underpassed by the Eisenhower Tunnel) is
about 10,000 feet. I guess I'd have to fly West by way of Texas, huh?

Eisenhower Tunnel is over 11K ft. The top of the mountain
(Loveland Ski Area) is over 12K, closer to 13K, IIRC. Just to the
southeast is Loveland Pass, which is 11,990 ft on the road, and
the hill goes up a bit more (you can hike the trail)...but
it's been a year since I drove by the altitude marker up there.

ET wrote:
Cub Driver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote in
On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 15:43:29 GMT, (Ron Lee)

Can a Sport Pilot fly over Independence Pass?

One web source places the altitude at 12095 feet. You tell me if your
aircraft and any possible sport pilot restrictions makes that
realistic.

10,000 feet is Sport Pilot limit.

Yup, I "think" the only way around for a Sport Pilot is El Paso... If
there is another (better) one, I'd like to know about it.... I'm
attempting to plan a sport pilot CC from SNA to OSH....

You may want to check into I-80 route. IIRC you can stay under 10K
the entire way.

(Blanche Cohen) wrote in
:

ET wrote:
Cub Driver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote in
On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 15:43:29 GMT, (Ron Lee)

Can a Sport Pilot fly over Independence Pass?

One web source places the altitude at 12095 feet. You tell me if
your aircraft and any possible sport pilot restrictions makes that
realistic.

10,000 feet is Sport Pilot limit.

Yup, I "think" the only way around for a Sport Pilot is El Paso... If
there is another (better) one, I'd like to know about it.... I'm
attempting to plan a sport pilot CC from SNA to OSH....

You may want to check into I-80 route. IIRC you can stay under 10K
the entire way.



Thanks I'll check it out...

The only thing I've done so far is play with the AOPA flight planner
using airways and staying under 10,000 feet... it comes up with through
El Paso, but I thought perhaps there might be a better way. This trip
is still several months away, & I'm not PIC.

--
-- ET :-)

"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams

"Blanche Cohen" wrote in message
...
Most of the time, this is true. I-80 or I-40 are both great routes
thru the ROckies. However I-70 over the Rockies thru Colorado is a NO-NO.

Yes, I agree. I did say "tend"...I suppose a more explicit qualification
could have been made. The terrain due west of Denver is challenging
regardless, IMHO. One of the hardest places to cross the Rockies,
especially in a low-power, non-turbo airplane. But most of the other
interstate routes aren't nearly as bad and, as you note, I-80 or I-40 are
both downright easy.

Pete

"Cub Driver" usenet AT danford DOT net wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 15:30:46 GMT, (Ron Lee)
wrote:

Just be aware of TUNNELS like on I-70 west of Denver.

Right! Be sure to put on your landing lights in the tunnel!

and honk your horn for luck!