Six Things Pilots Check Before Flying Into Mountainous Terrain

Simple Flying

Mountain flying can be one of the most rewarding experiences in general aviation, but it removes many of the safety margins pilots rely on everywhere else. The FAA’s #Flysafe campaign puts it plainly: every mountainous area is different, and a pilot familiar with one range is likely not prepared for all of them. Good training, both on the ground and in the air, with an experienced instructor, is the foundation, but every flight still comes down to a series of specific questions a pilot has to answer honestly before committing to a route. Loss of control, an unintended departure from controlled flight that can develop into a stall or spin with little warning, remains the leading cause of fatal general aviation accidents, and mountain terrain is one of the environments where it shows up more often.