Mountain Flying

[Chuck Ellsworth]

European questions rarely benefit from North American answers!

Really?

I live in B.C. and we have a lot more mountains than France has, and just for the record I flew in France for quite a few years and never needed a mountain rating...in fact I had no idea there was such a thing.....

....so who issues this rating and under what authority?

French "altiports" to give them their proper name require an additional rating to enable you to operate in and out of them. Chuck / Piperboy - that is what is being referred to

.

Once again, what authority issues and enforces the mountain rating?

Google "Courcheval" and you might realise why

I am quite familiar with the Alps.....

Google " mount aconcagua " .

In 1975 I spent half a day bombing a fire on the border of Chile and Argentina at the eight thousand foot level of the west side of Anconcauga in a PBY. So I think I am at least one North American who understands mountains.....

...but never ever heard of needing a mountain rating in any part of the world I flew in.

[Mark 1]

so who issues this rating and under what authority?

Chuck, It's an EASA thing:

FCL.815 Mountain rating
(a) Privileges. The privileges of the holder of a mountain rating are to conduct flights
with aeroplanes or TMG to and from surfaces designated as requiring such a
rating by the appropriate authorities designated by the Member States.

It's probably less restrictive than the old French altiport rating and is at least everlasting if you maintain currency.

I'm curious as to how you would go about flying to one of these places with a non-EASA ICAO licence that doesn't have an equivalent rating.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I'm curious as to how you would go about flying to one of these places with a non-EASA ICAO licence that doesn't have an equivalent rating.

I last flew in Europe in 2005 and as far as licensing was concerned I was issued JAR authorizations based on my Canadian licenses.

My Airdisplay Authority was also based on my Canadian licenses and a yearly flight test just like everyone else who flew in the air show circuit..

I also had the age restriction removed to fly as Captain on transport category airplanes, when I retired I was seventy with no restrictions for any type of flying.

How does one get these exemptions?

When you work for the right people they get things done for you.

And of course they pay you real well for your services.

[mad_jock]

Chuck its basically a high altitude funny runway rating.

Its got nothing to do with flying around mountains you can do that you just can't land at these airports without special training.

They are steep gradient unidirectional runways with a flat area at the top that acts an apron.

As for the none EASA ticket they really won't care, they don't particularly want none locals flying in their anyway. And I suspect once things shake themselves out they will change the rules so that a mountain rating will not just be required and you will need some sort of local sign off before you can use them. And it will go back to the old altiport rules anyway. The airports still retain the right to set their own requirements for approval to use them. And that will include a French check out. And I wouldn't be surprised if they don't impose a French language requirement which is virtually impossible to get unless you hold a French license for EASA licenses outside France.

[N-Jacko]

Is Three Valleys Flying Club at Courcheval still operating? Any update on where is best for the Mountain Rating please?

On the basis of a couple of weeks flying there last summer, I'd recommend Megève. Good food, well-maintained D140s (some of which have apparently survived the ski season) and friendly instructors. PM me if you want contact details.

P.S. By all means come and practice a bit in sunny Scotland before you go...

[BroomstickPilot]

Mountain flying in German speaking places

Hi Guys,

One thing that strikes me reading this thread is that everybody seems to be talking about doing mountain flying in French speaking places.

Are there no mountain flying training establishments in Germany, Austria or the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland? After all, there's no shortage of alps down there.

Regards,

BP.

[PH-UKU]

Mountains in the UK, and flying between them .....

Don't need a mountain rating for anything in the UK, but if you want to learn a bit about technique and dangers, then you could do worse than an hour or two doing some of this.. All the lochs are generally by definition, in amongst the mountains, and it's a s##tload of fun

[AirborneAgain]

Don't need a mountain rating for anything in the UK, but if you want to learn a bit about technique and dangers, then you could do worse than an hour or two doing some of this.. All the lochs are generally by definition, in amongst the mountains, and it's a s##tload of fun

As mad_jock said, the "Mountain Rating" is not about flying in mountains, it is about operating from very steep (18.5% in Courchevel) one-way runways.

[Fly-by-Wife]

Originally Posted by AirborneAgain

As mad_jock said, the "Mountain Rating" is not about flying in mountains, it is about operating from very steep (18.5% in Courchevel) one-way runways.

It's not just for difficult runways - for example, St. Tropez airport (La Mole) requires pilots of light aircraft to either have the French mountain rating or have done a "familiarisation" flight with local instructors. This is due to its position in a valley between steep slopes - the runway itself is long and perfectly flat.

FBW

[Burtoni]

I'm interested in doing he mountain rating this summer.

No reply so far from 3vallees aeroclub. Anyone know if they speak English?

Struggling to find any other training place with a website. Any clues??

[mad_jock]

St. Tropez airport (La Mole) can't do anything at all to make you do anything unless you want to land there.