This document provides information and considerations for planning a safe backcountry flying adventure. It discusses: 1) Factors to consider when selecting a backcountry airstrip such as strip length, surface conditions, terrain constraints, weather, and traffic volume. 2) Personal preparations including ensuring proficiency with short-field techniques, consulting instructors familiar with the area, and potentially doing a training flight. 3) Equipment to bring like survival gear, personal locator beacons for emergency communication, and checking weather access given remote locations. 4) Safety procedures like slowing speeds, announcing positions, and securing cargo for rough air when flying in canyons or approaching to land.

1. Backcountry Operations
Refresher Clinic

2. PLANNING FOR A
BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE

3. Why The Backcountry?

4. So Many Great Places
Western Montana and Central
and Northern Idaho have over
100 backcountry destinations.
These range from 1000’ bars
to 6000’ paved runways with
every imaginable terrain
condition.
With all these strips, how
does one make a decision?
http://idahoaviation.com/idahoAirstripNetwork.php

5. Airstrip Considerations
Strip length
– Your aircraft might be capable of making the
landing, but what about the take-off roll?
Runway surface – Sod? Gravel? Sloped?
– Factor in a safety margin

6. Geographic Considerations
Is the strip in a narrow
canyon?
Is it tree constrained?
Is it a one-way strip?
Is there a go-around
option?
Is the area known for
turbulent surface winds?

7. Weather
Considerations
Well before you go,
research the historical
weather.
Are the winds that time of
the year typically
favorable?
Do the temps that time of
year suggest high density
altitude?
http://www.wunderground.com/history/

8. Personal Considerations
Can you extract maximum
performance from your
aircraft?
– Are you proficient with short-
field / soft-field techniques?
Can you land short
consistently?
– How well do you manage
your approach speed?

9. Safety Considerations
Johnson Creek Accident on June 28th,
2013. Two aircraft collide on short final.
There are some strips that
are so popular that getting
in and out safely requires
extraordinary vigilance.
On the day of the accident
there were reportedly over
100 aircraft at Johnson
Creek.
Three adults were
hospitalized and a 2 year
old was killed.

10. Building The Short List
The answers to the previous questions will lead to a smaller list
of possible destinations.
If you need to narrow the list down further, talk to pilots and
instructors familiar with the area.
As you socialize your plan, the feedback you get will help to
narrow the list further.
It will be good to have an “A” list and a “B” list that are in
separate geographic areas in case weather precludes access.

11. RESEARCH AND REFINE

12. Resources
Contact several flight schools in the area you plan to visit and
talk with their instructors.
– Discuss your interests, aircraft type, experience level, and
tentative flight plan.
– The more people you speak with, the better informed you will
become.
Search online to find discussion boards and other information
resources.
Get some one-on-one practice with an instructor at a grass strip
close to your home base.

13. Mountain Flying Instruction
Final Exam
Ground Training
• Review the basics
– Weight & Balance
– TO & LDG distances
– Mountain Weather
• Review your flight plan
– Are your destinations really
appropriate for you and
your aircraft?
Flight Training
• Focus on the important
aspects of terrain flying
– Slow flight
– Airspeed management
– Steep turns
– Interpreting sectionals
• Fly your intended route
Plan to spend at least a day with an instructor who is based in the area you intend to fly.
Consider meeting on the front range rather than venturing into the mountains uninitiated.

14. PACKING ESSENTIALS

15. Survival Kit
Water Purifier
Fisherman’s Vest
Survival Manual
Compass
Wool Cap
Plastic Leaf Bags
Whistle
Rescue Blanket
Toilet Tissue
Knife
Waterproof Matches
Fire Starter Kit (Vaseline Impregnated
Cotton Balls)
Signal Mirror
Snare Wire (50’ 24-AWG)
Fish Hooks
Saw
Flashlight
Nylon cord or rope (50’)
+ 
http://www.mountaincanyonflying.com/survival.html

16. Personal Locator Beacon
Delorme inReach
• SOS Function activates
Search & Rescue
• Bread Crumbs
– Others can track your
progress.
• Two-way text
– Keep others advised of your
status
– Receive WX information

17. WX
Many of the places you will be don’t have terrestrial
communications networks.
In such places, the only option is some form of satellite
based solution.
The Garmin 696 is a great option. If you don’t own one,
perhaps you can borrow one for your trip.
Another option is to use you’re a two-way satellite text
service to ask a friend to send you WX information.
Don’t forget 800-WX-BRIEF if you’re someplace with a
landline.
Garmin 696
with XM
subscription

18. Flight Operations in The
Backcountry
Make sure you know the current and forecast weather.
Slow down! You’ll see more, be able to execute a tight 180 if needed, and be
less likely to upset people and animals below.
Fly on the upslope side of the canyon and maintain appropriate VFR altitudes.
Cross ridges at 45 degrees.
Communicate! Announce your position when flying canyons and of course
when approaching to land.
See and Be Seen! Use your lights.
Tie down your cargo! You don’t want it visiting you if you encounter rough air.

19. DENSITY ALTITUDE

20. Koch Chart
Airplane performance and critically,
the takeoff performance, is affected
by density altitude.
Density altitude is your pressure
altitude (altitude that the altimeter
reads when set to 29.92"), corrected
for non-standard temperature.
The Koch chart is a nomogram that
quickly estimates the increase in your
takeoff distance and the decrease in
rate of climb.
http://www.learntoflywithkris.com/koch_chart.html

21. In order to achieve seal-level performance at a density attitude of 7600’
max gross weight must be reduced 897 lbs. to 2404 lbs.
Density Altitude Effect
on Max Gross Weight
Rule of thumb:
A normally aspirated aircraft engine loses approximately
3.5% HP for every 1000 foot increase in altitude above sea
level.
Example:
Bonanza S35 with 285HP @ SL
2100 lbs. Basic Empty Weight
3300 lbs. Max Gross Weight
Power Loading: 3300lbs/285HP = 11.5 lbs/HP
Airport Density Altitude = 7600’
HP Reduction = 3.5% * 7.6 = 27%
Available HP = 285HP * 73% = 209HP
Equivalent Gross Weight: 209HP * 11.5 lbs/HP = 2404 lbs.
http://www.mountainairdancellc.com/

22. DA Reality Check
Unless you’re taking off from sea-level on a
standard day, your plane is always operating
at less than 100%.
The point of this exercise is to demonstrate
the negative effect DA has upon aircraft
takeoff performance.

23. DA Coping Strategies
• Take off (and land) in the morning or
evening when temperatures are lower.
• Carry less cargo.
• Carry less fuel.
• Portage your gear and people over
multiple trips to/from an airport with a
longer, paved runway.

24. TO/LDG DISTANCES
POH charts

25. Take Off Distance

26. Landing Distance

27. RESOURCES

28. Mountain Flying Online Resources
• AOPA Pilot Resources – Mountain Flying
• AOPA Air Safety Institute Mountain Flying
Course
• FAA AIM section 7-5-6 Mountain Flying
• Mountain Airdance Flight Instruction
• Montana Pilots Association
• Idaho Aviation Association

29. THANK YOU