Learn About Backcountry Flying
If you’re not familiar with backcountry flying let me take a second to say that you’re definitely missing out. While I’m probably a very biased source, I think that I’ve got a right to be. You see I grew up in Idaho, where I was steps from what is probably the best backcountry playground south of Alaska. If you happen to be one of the lucky ones you’ve probably had a chance to test your skills at one of the unimproved strips that dot the countryside in places like Alaska, Utah, the Mexican Baja and oh ya… Idaho. Once you’ve had the chance you’re changed forever, you spend days and nights cruising classified ads looking for that perfect Super Cub or Maule. You sign up to test your feet for that elusive tailwheel endorsement, and seek out any opportunity to find your way back to the backcountry.
If I peaked your interest (insert hopeful pause here) then here’s just a few great resources on the web to get ya started.
Stop by and say hi on the forum at BackcountryPilot.org, they’ve got a wealth of combined experience and reliving their flights is almost as good as being there yourself.
Study up with Sparky Imeson’s book Mountain Flying.
Watch an approach to one of the airfields featured at Shortfield.com. Here they’ve taken the time to do your homework for you, flying the approaches and videotaping the results. They even have a wiki resource for backcountry airfields so you can let folks know about that pothole halfway down the runway at (insert favorite field here…).
Grab one of the great handbooks published by backcountry pilot and author Galen Hanselman, they are probably the definitive guides to the backcountry. Great pictures and narratives… not to mention he points out some great fishing holes.
Finally, take the time to support those backcountry airfields by joining one of the many pilot associations out there. Unfortunately not everyone sees those airfields the way we do, so they need some help. Organizations like the Idaho Aviation Association and the Colorado Pilot’s Association are dedicated to protecting our airfields. So please get involved. Any help, even if it’s just awareness, furthers the cause.
Article written by Ted Erickson
Tags: Aviation Links, Aviation References, Backcountry Airfields, Backcountry Flying, BackcountryPilot.org, General Aviation, Idaho Backcountry Flying, Idaho Flying, Mountain Flying, Shortfeld.com
Filed under: The Blurbs
