Precision Off Airport Training/Mountain Flying







Here is the challenging one!

This is what aviation in Alaska was meant to be!

These courses will put your piloting skills to the true test and can give you the fundamental skills necessary for flying the "Bush".

 

Our off airport training can give you the knowledge to judge landing site conditions from the air. Plus, learn the maximum performance of our aircraft, including climb rates, landing, and takeoff distances. The Initial Bush Course can offer real life experience with density altitude, weight and balance, and short and soft field techniques.

Our Advanced Bush Course takes it to the next level by providing you the opportunity to put the theory and methods learned in the Initial Bush Course to use while gaining real life experience.

Gravel bars, mountain tops, remote mining strips are all part of the program.
We will touch on survival gear. Avenues of escape, mountain flying, high altitude operations, exterior loads and much more.

These are courses you won't find on the FAA web site!

The setting could not be more beautiful. All our training is surrounded by the mountains of the Alaska range w/ Mt.McKinley dominating the sky line, and the Talkeetna mountains.The state of Alaska is awesome and we really enjoy sharing it with other pilots.

The Initial Bush Course consists of 2-3 hours of ground instruction per day and 5-6 hours of flight training.

The Advanced Bush Course typically involves 4 nights lodging/camping, meals, 20 hours of flight instruction and 10 hours of ground training.


We start by discussing the Specifics of the aircraft we will be flying (a 160 hp Citabria). This includes aircraft systems and components, performance, and limitations. We then move into the physics of precision takeoffs and landings. Then on to judging landing and takeoff distances and conditions from the air. We will also touch base on some basic mountain flying techniques.

Now for the fun stuff! Lets go fly what we learned on the ground! We walk you through every step of the process. Weather and conditions permitting, we will operate out of several short, soft, narrow, and high altitude "Runways" as well as gravel bars. You will learn the essentials necessary to be confident in your plane and maximize its potential.

These courses are not for the week of heart!

After the theory and minimal experience of the Initial Bush Course, the Advanced Bush Course offers applicants the opportunity to build experience and actually apply theory and methods to real world situations. The course takes the student to multiple places around the state of Alaska where weather and landing conditions can be unpredictable. While the Advanced Bush Course focuses primarily on building flight time and Bush Flying experience, it also provides training on non flying aspects of Bush Aviation such as, survival gear preparedness, overnight outdoor considerations, remote fueling availability and wildlife avoidance and precautions.

 

Buckle up for the flying experience of a lifetime!
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