AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013 - 86

The Advantage is its Simplicity.

SmartDeck

®

by Esterline CMC Electronics

SmartDeck has all the capabilities of other glass cockpits,
plus one key difference: its simplicity. Everything works the way pilots expect.
No questions. No confusion. So every pilot can ﬂy better, smarter and safer.
®

For more information, please
contact Greg Plantz, Director,
SmartDeck at 262-930-2320
Greg.Plantz@cmcelectronics.us

www.cmcelectronics.ca

Keeping Pilots Safe.
Safeguarding the Future of GA.
DOnATe TODAy!
Call Toll Free: 800-955-9115 or Donate
Online: www.aopafoundation.org

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TECHNIQUE

Needless to say, I think Collins lucked
out letting me do all of that monkey motion.
As a longtime CFI, I think he enjoyed watching a young pilot have his rear handed to him
in some unusual weather in a very complex
airplane. Had we been in a lower-powered
airplane, conditions like we encountered
that day could have been downright dangerous. Peaks in the Appalachians can reach
6,000 feet and a diminutive airplane like a
Piper Cherokee or Cessna 172 simply doesn’t
make enough power at that altitude to overcome such downdrafts.
Airliners, too, are affected by waves.
Mountain waves coming off the Rocky
Mountains can exist at altitudes higher than
most jets can fly. They also can exist hundreds of miles east of the mountains over
featureless terrain.
On windy days, mountain waves can
occur 100 miles east of the Appalachians
as well. At cruise altitude, some jets operate within a narrow airspeed band, known
as “coffin corner.” This is where the difference between VNO and stall speed may be
only 10 or 20 knots. In older jets, the band
can be smaller. Throw in a mountain wave
with excursions of 10 knots and you can see
where trouble lies. The only solution in such
a case is to descend to a lower altitude to
widen the airspeed band and ride it out.
Mountain wave activity is often noted
in your preflight weather brief. If it’s early
in the day and there are no reports, simply check the winds aloft for direction and
strength. If the winds are blowing strong
perpendicular to the hills, you can bank on
at least some wave activity—and plenty of
low-level turbulence.
As always, leave yourself an out if you
start encountering waves. Although it may
add some length to your trip, you could plan
a route over lower terrain to give yourself
a little more room between you and the
ground. Ask ATC if there have been any
reports of wave action and give pireps of any
you encounter, for others to plan on. AOPA
PETE BEDELL is a pilot for a major airline and

co-owner of a Cessna 172 and Beechcraft
Baron D55.
JAY SCENARIO Download this

scenario to your AOPA Jay
from Redbird (www.my-jay.com).

• 800-257-9444 • http://www.aviationseminars.com/pilot •
86 | AOPA PILOT August 2013
http://www.cmcelectronics.ca http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.my-jay.com http://www.my-jay.com http://www.aviationseminars.com/pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013
