Behind The Curve

The only time Ive performed what I consider to have been a for-real high-altitude takeoff, it went fine. I was at Albuquerque, N.M.s Double Eagle II airport, elevation some 5800 feet. It wasnt the middle of summer, but it was a warm, sunny fall afternoon. I dont recall which runway I used, but it offered more than enough length for my Debonair, which carried only me, some gear and full fuel. As Id been trained, I leaned the engine before the takeoff and let the airplane fly itself off the runway. I handled it gently until gaining enough airspeed to establish a proper climb and I had some altitude.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

High density altitude severely degrades aircraft performance, extending takeoff rolls and reducing climb rates, while the "ground effect" can create a false sense of security, allowing an aircraft to lift off prematurely without sufficient airspeed to climb safely.
A fatal Cessna 172 accident at a density altitude of over 9000 feet demonstrated this danger, as the pilot likely stalled the aircraft by attempting to force a climb with insufficient airspeed and possibly improper mixture management.
Pilots must thoroughly understand density altitude effects, manage engine mixture correctly (lean for altitude), and ensure adequate airspeed for a sustained climb *out of ground effect* to prevent stalls and ensure safe operations in challenging conditions.

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The only time I’ve performed what I consider to have been a for-real high-altitude takeoff, it went fine. I was at Albuquerque, N.M.’s Double Eagle II airport, elevation some 5800 feet. It wasn’t the middle of summer, but it was a warm, sunny fall afternoon. I don’t recall which runway I used, but it offered more than enough length for my Debonair, which carried only me, some gear and full fuel. As I’d been trained, I leaned the engine before the takeoff and let the airplane fly itself off the runway. I handled it gently until gaining enough airspeed to establish a proper climb and I had some altitude.

Some years later, one distinctive memory of that takeoff is the time and distance it took to accelerate to liftoff speed. The takeoff roll was both longer in duration and with slower acceleration than I was accustomed. As successful as it was, I came away thinking the only good thing about a high-altitude takeoff is that it put me that much closer to my planned cruising altitude.