Flight Training - April 2012 - 32

TELLURIDE REGIONAL AIRPORT in Colorado sits atop Deep Creek Mesa and is North America's highest commercial airport at 9,070 feet above sea level. Runway 9/27 is 6,911 feet long and has been repaved to fix the depression since this photo was taken. (See "Flying Carpet: Ski Telluride!," page 24).

THE 14,000 FOOT peaks surrounding Telluride Regional Airport are shown on this Google Earth view.

feet km

4000 1

takeoff and landing may be in order. The same goes for airplane minimums. Weight and density altitude lengthen the takeoff run, but a short runway has the same net effect, which is to say you will be close to the pavement’s limits. If you are flying out of a runway that you know is close to the limit of the airplane, use the short-field takeoff and landing technique.
RUNWAY CONDITIONS. The soft-field situation can be much less obvious than the short field. There are many unpaved runways around the world. Do you perform a soft-field takeoff and landing at each? The answer depends on the situation. Sometimes even operating
32 / FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

off a paved runway may call for the use of soft-field techniques. If you consider the elements of a soft-field takeoff and landing, the answer of when to use them becomes easier. The point is to stay off the brakes, and generally reduce the friction between the tires and the runway by taking off as soon as possible and landing as gently as possible. With this in mind, a paved runway with standing water calls for soft-field techniques, as do soggy grass, gravel, or dirt runways. You’ll also have better success at one of the few ice runways in the United States if you use certain elements of the soft-field technique. Hard grass runways rarely require a soft-field takeoff or landing, unless the

grass is high. Then a soft-field takeoff and landing are appropriate. Obstructions—rarely discussed in the training context—are of massive concern in the real world. Obstructions turn soft-field takeoffs and landings into short-and-soft fields. And they turn normal, easy shortfield approaches into massively difficult affairs that require specialized training. A glimpse at the practical test standards reveals that the FAA acknowledges this point, and expects pilots to be trained with it in mind. The name “short-field landing” conjures up images of landing on the numbers and making the first turnoff, but the reality has a vital distinction. Anyone can fly a flat approach with power, chop it off, and slam it down at the end of the runway. But flying a steep approach with full flaps and hitting a spot, which the PTS requires, is a different and much more important skill. Rare is the 1,500 foot runway in the middle of nowhere with a hard surface

BRETT SHRECKENGOST



http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - April 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - April 2012

Flight Training - April 2012
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
A Golden View
How it Works
Success Story Member Products
After the Checkride
News
Since You Asked
ASI News
Final Exam
News
AOPA Action
Tech Tip
Flying Carpet
MASTER CLASS
CONFIDENCE IN THE CLOUDS
TECHNIQUE
Weather
Accident Report
Flight Lesson
If You Haven't Yet Already...
Career Advisor
Tech Talk
Strawberry Field of Dreams
A Time to Learn
It's a 'Check' List
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - April 2012 - Flight Training - April 2012
Flight Training - April 2012 - Cover2
Flight Training - April 2012 - 1
Flight Training - April 2012 - 2
Flight Training - April 2012 - 3
Flight Training - April 2012 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - April 2012 - 5
Flight Training - April 2012 - Right Seat
Flight Training - April 2012 - 7
Flight Training - April 2012 - 8
Flight Training - April 2012 - Letters
Flight Training - April 2012 - A Golden View
Flight Training - April 2012 - 11
Flight Training - April 2012 - How it Works
Flight Training - April 2012 - Success Story Member Products
Flight Training - April 2012 - After the Checkride
Flight Training - April 2012 - News
Flight Training - April 2012 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - April 2012 - 17
Flight Training - April 2012 - ASI News
Flight Training - April 2012 - 19
Flight Training - April 2012 - Final Exam
Flight Training - April 2012 - News
Flight Training - April 2012 - AOPA Action
Flight Training - April 2012 - Tech Tip
Flight Training - April 2012 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - April 2012 - 25
Flight Training - April 2012 - 26
Flight Training - April 2012 - 27
Flight Training - April 2012 - MASTER CLASS
Flight Training - April 2012 - 29
Flight Training - April 2012 - 30
Flight Training - April 2012 - 31
Flight Training - April 2012 - 32
Flight Training - April 2012 - 33
Flight Training - April 2012 - CONFIDENCE IN THE CLOUDS
Flight Training - April 2012 - 35
Flight Training - April 2012 - 36
Flight Training - April 2012 - 37
Flight Training - April 2012 - TECHNIQUE
Flight Training - April 2012 - 39
Flight Training - April 2012 - Weather
Flight Training - April 2012 - 41
Flight Training - April 2012 - 42
Flight Training - April 2012 - Accident Report
Flight Training - April 2012 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - April 2012 - If You Haven't Yet Already...
Flight Training - April 2012 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - April 2012 - 47
Flight Training - April 2012 - Tech Talk
Flight Training - April 2012 - Strawberry Field of Dreams
Flight Training - April 2012 - A Time to Learn
Flight Training - April 2012 - It's a 'Check' List
Flight Training - April 2012 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - April 2012 - 53
Flight Training - April 2012 - 54
Flight Training - April 2012 - 55
Flight Training - April 2012 - Debrief
Flight Training - April 2012 - Cover3
Flight Training - April 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com