PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Many commercial helicopter operations involve flying in mountainous terrain or high altitude conditions. Distinctive skills are needed to fly safely in these environments and there’s no better place to gain the knowledge and skills than the Rocky Mountains.

The Colorado Heli-Ops Mountain Flying Course prepares pilots to operate in these conditions by training them in the specialized methods and techniques for flight planning, takeoff, enroute, and approach maneuvers. Knowledge of mountain winds and weather becomes critical as winds can be extremely variable and weather can change dramatically in minutes. High altitude conditions also require an in-depth understanding of helicopter performance and limitations – as well as power management in order to fly within those limits.

Colorado Heli-Ops is located at one of the closest airports to the mountains in the Denver Metro area, which allows more time flying in the mountains and less time flying to them. Our curriculum is based on real world experience and situations which ensures that you gain the skills necessary to safely operate in all kinds of mountain conditions. With such a diverse range of mountains nearby, students will gain experience navigating elevations from 6,000 to 13,000 feet (depending on the selected training aircraft).

While this course is essential for pilots planning to fly helicopters in high density altitude conditions, it is also a very beneficial program for all helicopter pilots – because it develops judgment, planning, and decision making skills. Also, the finesse needed to operate close to the limits of the aircraft’s capabilities can be just as useful when flying at lower altitudes in demanding conditions.