IFR in the Eastern Mountains

Kobra wrote:

Does anyone disagree that there's a better way to say, ...*ONE LITTLE
MISTAKE WILL PUT ALL YOUR LIGHTS OUT?* I don't think Barry Schiff, Rod
Machado or John King would blunder their words like that. I sense they have
more discretion and sophistication.

Rod Machado and John King would have probably stated, "One little mistake
and your whole day would be ruined," or "One little mistake and you would
end up having a very bad day." Similar in style to the quote you posted,
IMO.


--
Peter

HSP is only about 50 miles from me... I've been there a number of times.
If
you're looking to look at the leaves, you're already kinda late. The
higher
elevations around here are pretty much already changed and dropped. The
runway is
great, long, and wide, but there *are* some pretty hazardous air currents
right off
the end of the runway. (Basically right off the end of the runway is a
cliff that
drops probably at least 1000'... supposedly a few airplane wrecks can be
found down
there).

Rules of the "mountains" here seem to be similar to out west, only
less-so.
Density altitude can make a mess of you. Turbulence, lift, and sink can
be a problem
in windy conditions (especially this time of year). Don't push the
aircraft
performance envelope, and don't do anything stupid while clearing ridges
and you'll be
fine. ... a good example of stupid would be coming in slow at HSP where
you're very
likely to get sink off the end of the runway. Plenty of runway, so keep
it fast.


Great advice...thanks so much.

Kobra

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com writes:
Kobra wrote:
There are many other examples too: He states, "IFR in the eastern mountains
is a place where a lot of pilots fail to measure up...it is where only one
little mistake will PUT ALL THE LIGHTS OUT. That is when my wife walked out
of the room stating, "we're not going."

You obviously need to grow a set. Tell her she's going and that's it.

Ducking and running,

While you're at it, tell her that Collins exaggerates
greatly in that those overgrown hills back east aren't
mountains.

Everett M. Greene wrote:


While you're at it, tell her that Collins exaggerates
greatly in that those overgrown hills back east aren't
mountains.

Hmmmm...I wonder why they're within the FAA's Eastern Designated
*Mountainous* Area then?

Rod Machado and John King would have probably stated, "One little mistake
and your whole day would be ruined," or "One little mistake and you would
end up having a very bad day." Similar in style to the quote you posted,
IMO.

Exactly! That would have made the point, added humor and not been abrasive.

Kobra

Jose wrote:

"Do this and you will probably die" is sometimes called for.

Some of the better FAA Safety Seminar presenters I've seen have used
that exact wording to make a point. G

As pilots, we really need to be aware that some situations are very
dangerous if not taken seriously, and we need to plan accordingly for a
safe outcome. Sugarcoating and downplaying risk isn't productive to
anyone involved.

Once our attention is gained, we are in a better position to safely
perform the action. Better to put in the extra effort and study and
have it be no big deal, then to gloss over things and wish you hadn't
later...

Sam Spade wrote:
While you're at it, tell her that Collins exaggerates
greatly in that those overgrown hills back east aren't
mountains.

Hmmmm...I wonder why they're within the FAA's Eastern Designated
*Mountainous* Area then?


They can be scary places under the right conditions. I remember coming out of
the Shenandoah Valley in a Piper Arrow with two others aboard on a nice warm
sunny day in the summertime and thinking I was never going to get over the
"hills". I was circling and trying to climb at the same time. Every time I'd
start to make a dash across I'd start sinking on the approach side and wimp out.
Probably it would have been less nerve wracking if it'd have been in IMC: I
just wouldn't have seen those ridges. OTOH, I might have had a really bad day.

I freely admit to being uncomfortable flying in mountainous areas. I was meant
to fly over water and flatlands where I'm less likely to have problems with
cumulo granitus.




--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

On Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:10:14 -0400, "Kobra"
wrote:

My wife loves flying with me and she sees a trip in the airplane as a major
treat. We have flown together everywhere from Maine to the Bahamas. She is
also going to start lessons this Spring and she began the Cleared for
Takeoff CD ground school course.

Bahamas? What was the DVD for that like? Did it say anything about the
possibility of having to swim?

I live in the Eastern Mountains and have done most of my training and
flying here (TRI). These mountains should not be underestimated, but
they should not be objects of mindless fear. There are unique weather
conditions to be considered, but they're more of a problem for the VFR
pilot. Particular attention should be given to wind. A proficient IFR
pilot adhering to procedures should have little difficulty.

I've never been to Hot Springs, though I've flown over the area. I'm
more afraid of the prices than of the airport.

RK Henry

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:


They can be scary places under the right conditions. I remember coming out of
the Shenandoah Valley in a Piper Arrow with two others aboard on a nice warm
sunny day in the summertime and thinking I was never going to get over the
"hills". I was circling and trying to climb at the same time. Every time I'd
start to make a dash across I'd start sinking on the approach side and wimp out.
Probably it would have been less nerve wracking if it'd have been in IMC: I
just wouldn't have seen those ridges. OTOH, I might have had a really bad day.


Whenever you are a couple thousand feet below the ridgeline on approach
or departure, a blunder into the terrain has the same result as if the
mountains were 10,000 feet higher than the airport.

You found out about terrain-induced wind effect and high density
altitude on nice summer day. A turbo-charged engine is helpful, even
around those "little" mountains.

"Peter R." wrote:

Kobra wrote:

Does anyone disagree that there's a better way to say, ...*ONE LITTLE
MISTAKE WILL PUT ALL YOUR LIGHTS OUT?* I don't think Barry Schiff, Rod
Machado or John King would blunder their words like that. I sense they have
more discretion and sophistication.

Rod Machado and John King would have probably stated, "One little mistake
and your whole day would be ruined," or "One little mistake and you would
end up having a very bad day." Similar in style to the quote you posted,
IMO.

I prefer "This is where a serious mistake can get you killed....so
treat it with the respect it deserves."

Ron Lee