FLYING HIGH “Most pilots fly at 9,070 feet. We land.” That’s the message on a T-shirt sold at the Telluride Airport in Telluride, Colorado. The airport in Telluride is one of the nation’s highest, and pilots are continually challenged as a result. Taking off and landing are only two of the many challenges of flying in the high density altitude, dynamic weather, and hostile terrain of the American West. Although not a regulatory requirement, getting a mountain checkout from someone with local knowledge is smart. Pilots who fly in mountainous terrain on a daily basis are in tune with the unique challenges the environment presents. A quick Google search will turn up many flight schools and specialized operations that can give you the goods on this type of flying. Book a course during your next business trip, or incorporate it into a family vacation. They are usually only a few hours long, and the lessons learned there can be incorporated to flying elsewhere in the country, as well. MARCH 2012 FLIGHT TRAINING / 27