Mountain Flying - Training details
Mountain Flying has to be one of the most rewarding and interesting kinds of flying possible. Flying through valleys, past beautiful waterfalls, glaciers and over snowy peaks on a clear day is just spectacular. Whether just for recreation, or scenic flying commercially, mountain experience is a must for any Aviation enthusiast.
When flying in this type of terrain, the forces of nature exert a greater influence, which requires a special set of skills, knowledge and flying techniques to operate in this environment safely.
Wakatipu Aero Club specialises in Mountain Flying Training. We're not claiming to be experts in IFR... but when it comes to mountain flying, we believe our training is the best in the country. From Queenstown, every departure and arrival we make interacts with the mountains. It’s challenging, exciting, and with our years of experience flying in this area, it becomes the safest.
Entry Requirements
There are no specific entry requirements to start Mountain Training however it is advised that you:
- Hold at least a PPL
Course components
Ground:
- Weather interpretation (mountainous environment)
- Principles and considerations of Mountain Flying and Aircraft performance
Flying experience:
Our course involves at least 10 hours practical flying time, which involves these specific concepts:
- Horizon Definition
- Decision Making
- Contour Flying
- Valley turns and positioning
- Anticipation
- Saddle Crossing
- White-out
- Sun/Valley shadows
- Disorientation
- Weather Interaction
This can extend into more specialised and job specific training such as experience onto remote strips, beach operations, Milford Sound, Fiordland and Southern Alps. Commercial pilots employed by Air Wakatipu are expected to have carried out 50hrs of mountain flying training and local area familiarisation.