Treat High-Altitude Turbulence with Knowledge and Respect

Mountain wave turbulence can be a great teacher that cuts both ways.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 08:44 PM ET

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If mountain wave turbulence is severe, use both flaps and gear and slow to just above stall speed. [Illustration: Joel Kimmel]

Key Takeaways:

The author underwent a two-day mountain flying course in Colorado, covering high-altitude airport operations and demonstrating mountain wave effects.
During a flight, the aircraft encountered severe and unexpected mountain wave turbulence, causing extreme altitude drops and uncontrolled deviations.
The incident taught critical lessons on the unpredictability of mountain wave turbulence, emphasizing the need to slow the aircraft using flaps and landing gear in severe conditions, maintain ample terrain clearance, and always use firm restraints.

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It was October 2006. I had just bought a terrific, well-equipped Cessna T210 about a year before. It had occurred to me that with such a great high-altitude aircraft that I should take some quality mountain flying instruction. A friend had told me of an outstanding mountain instructor based at Vance Brand Airport (KLMO) in Longmont, Colorado, and strongly urged me to take his two-day course.

The first day of the course was basic mountain flying. We covered mountain and high-altitude basics. Where and how to crash-land and survive. How to prepare an emergency pack. How aircraft performed. And so on. It was a thorough and excellent preparation.