Off-airport takeoffs and landings are one of the most attractive aspects of backcountry flying because they unlock so many possibilities for exploration and adventure.
The AOPA Air Safety Institute cautioned pilots and organizers of backcountry events to be prepared for wind shifts, traffic management challenges, and high density altitude at larger events as interest in off-airport operations continues to grow.
The takeaway for pilots from a June 4 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit: Be prepared to prove that a low-altitude runway inspection pass was "necessary," though a new federal law may limit the FAA from pursuing similar cases.
Pilots and airport advocates are mobilizing in Utah after a draft plan published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would revoke aircraft access to more than a dozen airstrips in the Bears Ears National Monument.
A small crew of volunteers recently went on to the 2,900-foot gravel runway at Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska to mark a 25-foot-wide by 800-foot-long practice runway or “Super Cub strip” on either end of the longer runway. This will provide pilots with a place to practice their short-field takeoff and landing skills before heading out to more remote off-field landing areas.
Pecan Plantation is a stunning community with an unmatched lifestyle located 35 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Texas. Surrounded by 17 miles of the Brazos River, and offering an abundance of country club amenities. Residents enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, a village center with shops, private runways, and the charm of the historic town of Granbury.
The backcountry is one of the most alluring realms of aviation. It requires exceptional skill, usually an exceptional aircraft, and it can take you to truly exceptional places.
Most of the time when discussing an “off-airport landing” it’s not a good thing. Such as the time my friend John had an engine failure and had to land on a busy Chicago freeway (“Lake Shore Landing,” December 2018 Flight Training).
The first kitbuilt Bearhawk Aircraft Model 5 flew on November 7, the Austin, Texas, company announced. The Model 5 is a six-place, high-wing, tailwheel design that the company says is comparable to a Cessna 180 and 185 and is meant to be a heavy hauler and backcountry performer.
Backcountry pilots out West have all the fun. Mountains, challenging strips, and raging rivers make for great flying adventures. But if you break down the essence of what the backcountry is all about, you can find it almost anywhere.
Pilots tend to be take-charge people. The passive among us just don’t make the cut. Carry that energy into preparing for High Sierra Fly-In in Nevada, and you’ll have a great time—if, that is, you relish a truly off-grid camping experience.
Late summer and fall are your last opportunities to enjoy flying in the backcountry while the rugged strips are still free of snow. Whether you plan to attend a backcountry fly-in or rough it with some camping, these safety tips will help you get in and out of those strips while enjoying this special flying.
While proper checklist use is an essential part of the preflight inspection process, it is not completely foolproof. Distractions and interruptions are some of the biggest causes of checklist failure.
In a new collaboration from airshow pilot and flight school owner Patty Wagstaff and Sporty’s Pilot Shop, tailwheel students have been treated with another valuable resource—a two-hour tailwheel training course taught by Wagstaff herself.
Short takeoff and landing events captured the hearts and minds of aviation enthusiasts around the world in 2021. Make sure to put some of 2022’s STOL events on your calendar.
Jordyn Haught, the director of OZ1 Flying Club at Bentonville Municipal/Louise M. Thaden Field (VBT) in Arkansas, is explaining the impressive success of her 272-member club. Her eyes are sparkling with a secret she’s dying to reveal, but she wants me to discover it for myself. The same sparkle is pervasive around Summit Aviation, the entity at Thaden Field that runs an FBO with a trendy restaurant, a flight school, OZ1 Flying Club, and Fly Oz, a network of backcountry strips. The people at Summit are on to something spectacular and they know it.
Wildfires have burned more than 2.3 million acres in more than 15 states across the country as of August 9, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Oregon has 16 large active fires burning more than 580,000 acres, and one official is encouraging pilots who fly in the state to report any fires they see from the air.
STOL Drag is offering two-day training courses to help pilots polish their stick-and-rudder, power-management, and short-takeoff-and-landing skills and train to earn a spot in future STOL Drag events, including competing at the Stihl National Championship Air Races.
Beechcraft Bonanza pilot Adrian Eichhorn deflected personal kudos to favorable weather and his support team after completing an “absolutely spectacular” 3,239-nautical-mile flight from Reykjavik, Iceland, across the North Pole to Fairbanks, Alaska, May 11.
The kitbuilt Bearhawk Aircraft 4-Place short-takeoff-and-landing taildragger just became more versatile. The rugged backcountry aircraft engineered around a steel tubular fuselage and aluminum wings to haul heavy, bulky loads adds more utility—and more fun—with options for floats and skis.
Pilots have until December 23 to file comments with the National Park Service objecting to the closure of Stovepipe Wells Airport—one of two airports in Death Valley National Park—as proposed under a facilities upgrade strategy.
Northwest Arkansas’ rugged terrain drew seasoned aviators and enthusiastic spectators to its inaugural ArkanSTOL Ozark Backwoods Challenge in September. And while most competitors have been flying for years or even decades, it’s a newcomer—17-year-old Jaden Newman—who proved she’s the one to watch, having placed second after earning her pilot certificate earlier this year.
When we expand our horizons as VFR pilots to go farther, take new risks, and explore new destinations, it would be wise not to forget the important elements of basic aviating that have little to do with how far we’ve traveled.
It’s no secret: Backcountry and mountain flying have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. Pilots who participate in this sector of aviation have myriad reasons for doing so—a new challenge, a great way to sharpen their flying skills, breathtaking views, and a chance to get off the grid for the ultimate feel of freedom. Whatever the reason, the allure of flying the backcountry is undeniable.
When a Cessna 172 pilot flying in deteriorating conditions observed that the forecasted mountain obscuration was concealing the entire ridgeline ahead, it was a prudent call to land back where the flight began and take another look at the weather.
Fly around the Badlands, Glacier National Park, the Tetons, Hells Canyon, or the Alaska Range for some breathtaking views. When you land, be sure to check in using the AOPA app’s Pilot Passport feature to compete in the August backcountry mountain flying challenge.
American Legend Aircraft Co. announced a more powerful and more capable three-seat backcountry version of the Legend Cub called the "Mother Of All Cubs," or MOAC, that is rooted in the Piper Super Cub—a fully cowled refinement of the open-cylinder Piper J–3 Cub originally introduced in the late 1930s as a simple and slow tandem taildragger trainer.
More pilots are relying on apps rather than a call to flight service when gathering their initial preflight weather information—but nothing beats a human voice on the line for checking remote-area conditions or getting a last-minute update, according to AOPA’s 2020 Weather Survey.
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