Logging Mountain time
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: West of zero
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Back in the days when I used to pay attention to matters like this, the OAS/USFS/DoI definition of mountain time was “operating from a base elevation higher than 5,000 ft. MSL.” That was about 7 years ago. These days I fly offshore so I’m not affected.
Operating from a 5,000 MSL base at least gives one some familiarity with high DA considerations especially on summer afternoons; by the present definition I would at the end of my instructing days have amassed a whopping 1,000 mountain hours – all in the LA basin! And yes, including pinnacle, ridgeline and confined area ops up to (gulp, pant) 2,500 ft. MSL!
The title of 14 CFR 95 that the Forest Service Manual refers to is “IFR Altitudes”, and the mountainous regions defined in subpart B are for the purpose of e.g. determining MEAs (minimum enroute altitudes) and use with FAR 91.177:
I personally think that, for the reason given above, the recent change was a step backwards in required pilot experience, and will be repealed when this is realized at a high enough level.
Operating from a 5,000 MSL base at least gives one some familiarity with high DA considerations especially on summer afternoons; by the present definition I would at the end of my instructing days have amassed a whopping 1,000 mountain hours – all in the LA basin! And yes, including pinnacle, ridgeline and confined area ops up to (gulp, pant) 2,500 ft. MSL!
The title of 14 CFR 95 that the Forest Service Manual refers to is “IFR Altitudes”, and the mountainous regions defined in subpart B are for the purpose of e.g. determining MEAs (minimum enroute altitudes) and use with FAR 91.177:
§ 91.177 Minimum altitudes for IFR operations.
(a) Operation of aircraft at minimum altitudes. Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft under IFR below—
(2) If no applicable minimum altitude is prescribed in parts 95 and 97 of this chapter, then—
(i) In the case of operations over an area designated as a mountainous area in part 95 of this chapter, an altitude of 2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown; or
(ii) In any other case, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown.
(a) Operation of aircraft at minimum altitudes. Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft under IFR below—
(2) If no applicable minimum altitude is prescribed in parts 95 and 97 of this chapter, then—
(i) In the case of operations over an area designated as a mountainous area in part 95 of this chapter, an altitude of 2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown; or
(ii) In any other case, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of 4 nautical miles from the course to be flown.
