Come to NZ and you can see what it is like to have huge mountains towering above you with weather that traps you in seconds and down drafts that the local ATR 72's struggle to deal with.
Bla Bla Bla
The stupid thing is that we usually hold the same opinions with the ones that we are arguing with maybe just not clear with each other and coming from slightly different angles
I too have flown a lot over mountains in destinations around the Alps and Pyrennies and landed business jets at locations like St Moritz, Lugano, Chambery, LJLJ (Can never spell Lubliajana
as well as ferrying around big chunks of the world.
The point here is we are not really talking about 10000 plus mountains but being below any piece of cumulus granitus which can equally do total damage if its sticking in a cloud at 1500 feet as at 15000 feet.
Infact the higher the mountains the more important it becomes to spiral up vertically should anyone ever be in the unlikely and unfortunate position of being in cloud, out of sight of the ground and unsure of position amidst high terrain.
How would a PPL ever get into that situation? unbelievable but it does happen!
Pilot X was on a fishing holiday and was flying his 1970 Piper home the 300 nm. She was an old bird which had an old trimble GPS fitted.
Pilot X checked the weather which was good for his departure and arrival at his destination. he held a lapsed IMCR but was happy to trundle back VFR.
His route ran through 100 nm of hills and mountains ranging from 1500 to 4500feet. Pilot X had to be at an important work meeting the next morning and had overstayed his time fishing.
At first all was fine. he cruised happily along under a 2500 foot cloudbase and fairly good vis.
Approaching the hills ahead he was alarmed that the visibility had dropped and that some of the hills ahead were bathed in cloud.
"Never mind its localised he thought. Press on and things will improve". He knew the weather at his destination was good so no problem.
The visibility got worse and Pilot X was finding it harder to plot his route along the vallies. he was now down at 1200-1500 feet keeping VFR below cloud.
The vis was now bad and pilot X became more alarmed as wisps of scud cloud floated past underneith the aircraft.
He should turn back but he had to be at the meeting and Oh how he would kick himself if 10 miles ahead there was CAVOK.
Pilot X looked down through the scud trying to pick up landmarks as it got thicker.
Now his eyes were glued to the map on his lap. He looked up as he felt G to find the aircraft turning and pure white through the windows.
My God he thought I am in solid cloud at 1200 feet.................
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN HIS SITUATION? Okay he is a complete idiot but there are plenty about!
Pace