AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 80

RUDDER & WRENCH
It's easy for your old
bird to become a hero.
for operating below the rim of a canyon.
I use it to set up all my backcountry patterns
because it slows me down and gives
me excellent aircraft control while I focus
outside. Also practice slower than normal
approach speeds, hitting your landing spot
consistently without dragging the aircraft
in on power, and maintaining precise centerline
alignment on rollout. If you operate
at a long, wide, paved runway, try these
techniques at short, narrow runways for a
different perspective.
Start with the easiest and work
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80
AOPA PILOT / August 2023
your way up in difficulty level: Pick a
backcountry airfield that has the simplest
pattern and approach, isn't super
short, and doesn't have several complicating
factors like a dogleg or serious slope.
Once you boost your confidence operating
at that one, progress to strips with one
or two complicating factors-such as nonstandard
patterns and approaches, landing
in valleys, one way in/out strips, or very
short runways.
Create your pattern: If the airfield
doesn't have a pattern explained
in an airport directory or guide and you
haven't been able to talk to pilots who
have flown in there, fly over the area
above pattern altitude so that you can
see the strip and surrounding terrain
well to plan your pattern and approach.
Fly it again at pattern altitude, noting
visual checkpoints you can use if you
lose sight of the runway, and evaluating if
your pattern set you up properly on final
approach. Fine tune your pattern until
you feel comfortable.
Fly multiple approaches: Fly practice
approaches, tracking your aiming point
and breaking off before any point that
would commit you to landing until you
feel comfortable with a stable approach.
After a few stabilized approaches and you
begin to feel comfortable, take it all the
way to landing.
Have an out: Some backcountry
strips have abort points, after which going
around is no longer an option. Make the
decision early whether you can continue
to land or need to go around for another
approach. Analyze the terrain to pick the
best go-around route-look for valleys
that give you time to climb and areas that
offer emergency landing options. On takeoff,
have an abort point ready in case your
aircraft doesn't have the performance to
continue the takeoff and climb, you have
an aircraft problem, or wildlife runs out
in front of you.
Master each of these steps, and you
will be on your way to building your confidence
and decision making to assess and
land at backcountry strips that are within
your skill level and your aircraft's performance.
alyssa.cobb@aopa.org
MIKE FIZER
http://www.bearhawkaircraft.com http://wingsofhope.ngo
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

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