Years back...1976 to be exact. Driving over Independence Pass from Aspen to Denver, we came across an aircraft recovery operation at the 11,000 (or so) foot level. Chatted with the guys taking a break. This a full time summer job for them, hauling aircraft wreckage out of the Rockies. The way it was explained to me, pilots in single engines have no problem gaining enough altitude when flying to Aspen...but leaving Aspen, they fail to climb high enough, get caught in a canyon with no room to circle...and into a mountain they go. The guy I chatted with said he'd not want to fly into Aspen on anything less than a turbocharged twin.

Too bad the guy did not tell you the whole . Yes, they might crash all over the place in the Rockies, but there is a valley with a river running out of Aspen that you can follow that is pretty much downhill for a long time.

We train to use it in the jet if we take off and lose an engine right after lift-off. Single engine, heavy, no plane will climb very well so we look for every option in a place like Aspen.

A turbo twin is nice but many times the second engine just carries you to the scene of the accident. A good turbo single in many cases is safer.

Joe, I really didn't see many singles at the Aspen airport back in '76...there was a pretty impressive row of corporate jets though...

Paul,

Its the same way today. Aspen is where the rich and famous go, Vail likewise. In the summer you will find some "regular people" there but still not a whole lot. The approach to Vail is not as rugged but still, its not for the faint of heart. There is a very tall mountain right off the end of the runway West of the airport.

Last time I flew up there in a piston/prop plane it was in a Cessna C-210. Otherwise for me its all been jets there.

Update.

As of noon today, I am at 12.7 hours PIC, 54.7 hours total... and the holder of a temporary airman's certificate.

Yep, passed my FAA practical, Private Pilot, Single engine land this morning! Man, was it nerve racking. Oral portion was fairly uneventful; he did trip me up on NTSB 830, Accident/incident reporting.

The wind was switching between 170-190 degrees at 20 knots, gusts to 28. 40-50 knots at 6000'. Since it was mostly down the main runway, we went for it rather than rescheduling.

Lost altitude about 50' over the limit during slow flight, but I had it to full power pretty quickly after about the first 20' drop and talked to the examiner about it the entire time, so that kept me clean. It is pretty fun to sit there at 3500', 20 degrees of flaps, 50 mph indicated airspeed and see your shadow below parked in one spot.

Everything else went great. XC, simulated instrument, ground reference, simulated emergency, radio nav., stalls, in-flight diversion, departures and landings. The flight lasted 1.7 hours. And the debriefing was very beneficial.

I just may sleep tonight for the first time in a week.

Tom,

CONGRATS! You will never forget this day.

Now you have a "license to learn" and be safe and fly careful.

Joe A

Thanks Joe.

Here's the conditions at my home field:

http://www.saiawos3.com/9K8/index2.html

Am really surprised that the examiner continued the checkride with winds like that but you passed so thats good.

Please, in the future be very careful with flying in winds like this. Down the runway or not, 28 knot gusts is a lot of wind for any pilot, especially someone with the ink still wet on their temp. Personally I would feel better if you would limit things to 15 knots for a while to get used to things and get more airtime under your belt.

Joe A

You are precisely correct, and I am in full agreement with you, Joe. The current conditions are definitely beyond my personal minimums.

I will be following your (and my CFI's) wisdom, and not try to push the envelope until my experience has grown significantly.

Although, learning to fly in the KS wind has its experiential advantages!

The other day a guy looked at my airplane and asked me if I'd ever been in weather that scared me. He was a bit suprised at my quick answer:

"Nope."

I fly for fun. If the weather is going to scare me, it's no longer fun, and I will stay on the ground until conditions improve.

Congrats! Keep gas in the tanks, stay out of clouds, and you won't become a statistic.

Congrats!!! I remember my first solo well and you are right about how different the plane flys when the instructor hops out and says it is time.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1249764201.jpg


Stay safe and don't push situations in deteriorating weather.

Congrats! I too, remember that day like it was yesterday!! Still have the shirt also!

Awesome - congratulations!

Great job and as the others here have said, be careful and fly safely! Got my PP back in 1990 and I still remember it like it was yesterday!