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  • Private Pilot Ground School – Colorado - Upcoming Event JANUARY: PRIVATE PILOT WRITTEN TEST PREP WEEKEND GROUND SCHOOL Saturday & Sunday, Jan 11th & 12th, 2014 Vail Valley Jet Center On the weekend of January 11th and January 12th there will be an accelerated private pilot test prep ground school at the Vail Valley Jet Center.  The class is two days long, 8 […]
  • Mountain Flying Video – Route Planning - Just wanted to share a brief educational video we produced at our flight school earlier this week about mountain flying, this is the first module of 5 planned units we’re going to put into youtube on the fundamentals of mountain flying. Would like to hear some feedback on the unit. <strong>Mountain Flying Ground School – […]
  • Mountain Flying Basics – Pass Crossing Altitude - One of the frequent topics that comes up during our mountain flying courses is what is the correct elevation for pass crossing. I’ll attempt to make the answer as straight forward as possible however there are several considerations but if you follow some basic mountain flying strategies it’s pretty straight forward.
  • Learn Mountain Flying – Topic: Aircraft Performance - With the increase in summertime temperatures the density altitude also increases. I frequently tell pilots “KNOW YOUR PERFORMANCE” – That doesn’t mean just know how to read the performance chart in section 5 of the AFM, but rather know exactly how the plane will perform. How you ask? With each flight you should consult your […]
  • Mountain Flying Basics – Engine Cooling - A critical mountain flying element is understanding your airplane engine’s ability to maintain safe working temperatures. Let’s face it, some airplanes have better designed engine cooling and vent systems than others. To illustrate the point I compare two airplanes I have owned and flown many hours. Cessna Cardinal versus Piper Archer II – both planes […]
  • Wings Seminar / Safety Seminar Schedule | Loren French - A schedule of seminars and presentations that Loren French will be givingNo lectures or seminars are currently planned.
  • Night Flight in the Mountains - Flying VFR at Night in the Colorado Rockies Simply from reading the headline some of you may respond “that’s crazy.”  In reality night flight through the mountains can be more dangerous, but there are things a pilot can do to minimize the risk.  If you pick the right night, night flight in the mountains can […]
  • Looking & Scanning for Other Air Traffic - Proof that you can never stop looking for other aircraft. During a lesson today at Eagle Airport as we were taxing back to the ramp a completely unannounced aircraft suddenenly appeared on short final and proceeded to do touch-and-go’s.  Consider that Eagle Airport is a tower controlled airport with as many as 1000 operations per […]
  • High Density Altitude Takeoff Tip - Flaps… more flaps does not equal more lift. The other day I was at an FBO and I overheard a conversation between two pilots talking about flying to Denver in the summer.  The one pilot who had flew to Denver last summer was relaying his experience.  He was flying a 182 into Front Range Airport […]
  • Grand Canyon Special Airspace | Flying the Grand Canyon - An online safety program about the Grand Canyon Special Airspace Here’s a neat program about the Grand Canyon Airspace.  It’s a great 49 slide program greatly detailing all the information about the Grand Canyon Airspace. It explains all the altitudes, the GA cooridors, and the FAR 93 requirement to monitor the specific frequencies. It’s loaded with lots […]
  • Eagle County Aviation Association - Local Interest Groups Facilitate Safety Later tonight I’m scheduled to lecture to the Eagle County Aviation Association about special airspace and TFR’s.  Small local groups are a great way to get to know other pilots, facilitate open communication and to learn about the local flight environment.  Our own Eagle County Aviation Association is a good […]
  • Small Children in Small Airplanes - Advice on taking your little ones flying… In the past couple months I have been asked several times what I thought about taking small children flying.  I thought I would share my thoughts on the topic for those of you parents and grand-parents itching to take little ones flying. First, let’s recognize that small children […]
  • Aviation Safety Ramifications of Flight Crew Personnel Using Ketosis Diets - Fad diets impact the ability to think. Aviation Safety Ramifications of Flight Crew Personnel Using Ketosis Diets By: Loren French The last 5 years have brought about an explosion in the usage of fad diets to combat overweight bodies and obesity. Some of these diets induce a physiological condition called ketosis to accelerate weight loss. […]
  • Flight Safety and the Ketosis Diet - Are ketosis diets safe for active pilots? In the past 5 years there has been explosive use of low carbohydrate, high protein and high fat nutritional approaches. Although the long term benefits of these nutritional approaches will be debated for quite some time their immediate impacts to the human body are quite clear. Diets such […]
  • Flight Icing Considerations for General Aviation Aircraft - An important topic for flying in the Colorado Rockies. I figured a post on fight icing is due.  Tis the season for flight icing.  Today, I’m watching it snow and my flight lessons for the day have been cancelled due to inclement weather. In-flight icing represents a severe threat to the safety of general aviation […]
  • Flight Icing Considerations for General Aviation Aircraft - Full Paper For many pilots the term “In-Flight Icing” conjures up thoughts of terror in the cockpit when being caught off-guard by unexpected icing. In reality, in-flight icing can be a very severe threat to any aircraft, especially general aviation aircraft. Eventually, even pilots who embark under ideal conditions each flight will eventually find themselves […]
  • The Hot Stick Cowboy Pilot | B-52 Crash, Lt. Col. Holland, June 24, 1994 - Human Factors Analysis of June 24, 1994 – B-52 Crash On June 24, 1994 Lt. Col. Holland was practicing maneuvers for an air show. While executing a "go-around" at 250 feet altitude, the plane stalled and fell out of the air. For the vast majority of humanity, learning, and therefore changes in behavior often only […]
  • CRM is more than just being nice! - Crew Resource Management Continental Airlines Flight 1943 Continental Airlines flight 1943 illustrates a unique CRM problem unlike that of most aviation accidents.  In February of 1996, the crew of a Douglass DC-9 accidentally landed gear-up in Houston, Texas.  Unlike most crews involved in accidents, this crew was very friendly, they liked each other, and they […]
  • Density Altitude - There are more factors than just Altitude and Temperature Most people commonly believe there are only two factors related to determining density altitude: field elevation and temperature.  The belief that these are the only factors stems from the age-old use of the “density altitude chart” that every pilot encounters in textbooks, on tests, and in […]
  • Communicating with Air Traffic Control - Proper Terminology and Read-Back Procedures Increases Safety and Efficiency Several days ago a new student pilot posed the question: "Why does is the communications with ATC so structured, and is it necessary that we follow that structure?  Using proper terminology and read-back procedures increases safety and keeps everyone in the know as to your aircraft’s […]
  • Mountain Flying Courses – Returning to Eagle, Colorado - Coming Back Home To Colorado! Greetings to all.  After a long 18 months in Albuquerque working for Eclipse Aviation I will be returning to my home airport of Eagle Colorado.  As usual, I will continute to offer the mountain flying courses.  Starting September 15th, the courses will be held to and from Eagle Airport. The […]
  • Mountain Flying Adventure | AOPA Pilot April 2009 Issue - Telluride, Aspen, Leadville & Glenwood Springs Top The ListI opened my mail box yesterday and much to my delight, the cover story for April 2009 AOPA Pilot is Mountain Flying Adventure – Backcountry Adventure and to Ten most Challenging Airports.  I thought this was a great piece.  The second piece was the survey results from […]
  • Flying Missed After the Missed Approach Point | Mountain Instrument Flying - Going Missed after you Pass the Missed Approach PointIn the last post I discussed how instrument flight in the mountains introduces scenarios that don’t necessarily exist otherwise.  Today I wanted to highlight one such that is relatively common with mountain airports yet infrequently discussed. To understand this scenario you’ll need to look at the approach […]
  • Mountain CFI launches iPhone Application - News and Information from MountainCFI available on the iPhone In the next 30 days you’ll be able to get the content of this website delivered to your iPhone through our new iPhone application created by iTechnology Design. Thought provoking ideas and content focused on flying small aircraft in the Colorado high country. The MountainCFI iPhone application […]
  • Glenwood Springs Flying Club - An affordable option for Flying in the Colorado Rockies Depending upon what your specific goals and plan is, joining the Glenwood Springs Flying club  may or may not be right for you. Essentially, the club has about 15 members and 2 early 70′s aircraft.  Both aircraft are Cherokee 235′s.  The aircraft are older, and given […]
  • X-Plane 9 for iPad, Another Great Aviation iPad App - Fun… Yes. But Also a Great Simulatior Instructional Aid!I recently added the new X-Plane 9 to the contents of my iPad.  I previously had X-Plane on my iPhone and thought it was ok.  I was sure in for a surprise when I downloaded X-Plane 9 for the iPad.  X-Plan 9 simulator is simply incredible, and […]
  • Flightseeing | Flight to See Fall Colors of the Colorado Rockies from the Air - Autumn is at it’s peak in the next couple weeks, an ideal time to see the Rockies. I was up flying today in the Roaring Fork Valley, and boy the colors are amazing.  9 News said the colors are at peak next weekend.  This is a great time to fly the Colorado Rockies and see […]
  • Point your plane Due West, Aviation Fun in Western Colorado - Learning Mountain Flying in the Heart of the Colorado RockiesIf you’ve ever wanted to learn the skills to be proficient to fly your own airplane in the Colorado Rockies then we can help. Mountain CFI specializes in mountain flying instruction in your own aircraft. We use a variety of structured and unstructured scenarios to teach […]
  • Colorado Flight Instruction : Demand for airline pilots set to soar - Begin your flight instruction today at Eagle County Regional Airport… Here is an interesting article from USA Today regarding the future of Pilot Hiring.  I’m guessing this is a good time to learn to fly in order to position yourself for this upcoming hiring frenzy. http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011/06/Demand-for-airline-pilots-set-to-soar/48661596/1 After nearly a four-year drought of job openings, the airline […]
  • How close to the edge of the performance envelope are you? - The importance of closely examining aircraft performance in the summer and at higher elevations.   We frequently hear about complacency with relation to flying. The tendency of course is that as pilots get more and more time under their belts, they tend to become complacent with regards to the operation of their aircraft. We see […]
  • Renewing Your Pilot’s License | Recurrent Flight Training in Eagle Colorado - The process to get flying again after you have been out of it for years. Frequently I am asked what type of process is involved in getting back into flying after a person has been away for 5, 10, 15 or even 20 years or more. The process is surprisingly practical and straight forward.  Unlike […]
  • Learning to fly at 16, 17, or 18 years of age, what’s the right age? - When is the right time to have your son or daughter learn to fly?I occasionally get asked what’s the right age to get my son or daughter into flight lessons.  Having just had this discussion a couple hours ago, I figured this would be a great topic to add to the blog. First, let’s look […]
  • Aircraft Rental in Vail Eagle Colorado - Aircraft rental at the Eagle County Regional AirportAlpine Flight School offers pilot training and aircraft rental in the Vail Valley.  Our aircraft is a Diamond DA-20 Eclipse, commonly referred to as a Katana and is the later generation of the tried and true Katana aircraft.  The original Diamond DA-20 Katana was equipped with a 90 […]
  • Cross Country Flying to Colorado Mountains - Take a quick 5 minute journey from Baltimore Maryland across the USA to the Colorado Rockies I recently had the opportunity to reposition our Diamond DA-20 from Baltimore Maryland to the Colorado Rockies.  This is a neat little video, traveling over the mountains of Maryland and West Virginia, through Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and […]
  • Flight Lessons in Vail Colorado, Eagle Airport - Learn to fly in the mountains at the Eagle Airport, located near Vail Colorado Whether you are learning to fly for the first time, or simply looking to add mountain flying to your skill set, Alpine Flight School located at Eagle Airport can help.  Alpine Flight School offers private pilot ground and flight training as […]
  • Getting a Mountain Checkout is Important - Dreams of flying to Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming? Get some instruction and a checkout!Have you ever dreamed of flying your own airplane to an exotic mountain destination in the Rockies like Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Canada, or even Alaska?  Think about getting a mountain flying checkout and some good mountain flying instruction. A thorough […]
  • Flying My Own Plane to Alaska - Planning a trip to Alaska in your own airplane…I’ve made the decision in the last couple weeks to take my son and fly to Alaska next summer (2012).  I’ve always had a desire to fly a plane to Alaska and see the state, but my recent inspiration for the trip has come about after reading […]
  • Leadville Flight Instruction and Flight Training - Eagle County Regional Airport a short drive from Leadville Alpine Flight School, located at Eagle County Regional Airport is the ideal place to get your private pilot’s license or instrument rating.  We specialize in private pilot and mountain flight training and instruction.  We also can fly to Leadville and provide flight instruction there for a […]
  • Glenwood Springs Flying Club | Learning to Fly | Flight Instruction Airplane Rental - Flight Instruction and Airplane Rental in Glenwood Springs If you’re looking to learn to fly in Glenwood Springs Colorado there are a couple of great options for you.  First, the airport located just south of town in Glenwood Springs is one of the neatest airports in Colorado.  While it’s not an ideal place to learn, […]
  • FAAST Team Representative on Staff at Alpine Flight School - Loren French appointed to FAA Safety TeamAlpine Flight School in Eagle Colorado is pleased to announce that one of our instructors, Loren French has been appointed as a local FAA Safety Team Representative.  The FAA Safety Team, also known as the FAAST Team is the safety program of the Federal Aviation Administration, and their goal […]
  • Mountain FLying Basics – Altitude for Pass and Ridge Crossing - A good gauge and strategy for crossing ridges and mountain passes.   One of the frequent topics that comes up during our mountain flying courses is what is the correct elevation for pass crossing.  I’ll attempt to make the answer as straight forward as possible however there are several considerations. The first thing to remember […]
  • Mountain Flying Leadville - There are a couple iconic mountain airports in Colorado that are well worth the effort to visit. As part of our mountain training we frequently visit these airports, among them is Leadville. Thin air, turbulence, and gusty winds can make any mountain airport challenging for takeoff and landing, but Leadville, Colorado is exceptionally demanding. At […]
  • Mountain Night Flight – Full Moon Night over the Rockies - Flying under a full moon through the Rockies can be a surreal experience. We’ll teach you some strategies that will keep you safe when flying through mountains at night. In this session we’ll generally take 2-3 hours and will visit 1-2 other airports depending upon time of year and conditions. This flight is especially fun […]
  • OpenAirplane Rental in Colorado – It just got easier to rent here in Eagle. - Effective today Alpine Flight School became the first OpenAirplane operator in Colorado. With the OpenAirplane network you can more easily get access to aircraft through their unique Universal Pilot Checkout process. Alpine Flight School now offers UPC checkout with Mountain Flying Endorsement for the OpenAirplane program. Call our office at 970-401-5105 for more information. OpenAirplane […]
  • Mountain Pass Flying - Passes, Passes and more Passes A popular training scenario we frequently fly with pilot’s looking to learn mountain flying is this itinerary that includes some of the more challenging mountain passes in Colorado. This 3/4 day adventure focuses on terrain flying and pass crossing. From Eagle, we depart southwest over Cottonwood Pass, cross McClure Pass, Kebler […]
  • Colorado Extreme Airports - A popular training scenario we frequently fly with pilot’s looking to learn mountain flying is this itinerary that includes some of the most challenging airports in North America.   On this day adventure you’ll visit some of Colorado’s most extreme airports and incredible terrain.  Generally the scenario begins with a trip through McClure Pass to Telluride, North America’s […]
  • Mountain Flight Training – Topic: Crosswind Landings - Upcoming Event CROSSWIND SEMINAR Sat, Nov 16th, 2013 – 10AM Vail Valley Jet Center Terminal B Taylor Albrecht of Crosswind Concepts will be conducting a crosswind clinic at Eagle on Saturday November 16th 2013 at 10:00 AM in Terminal B of the Vail Valley Jet Center If you’re a pilot that could use a little […]
  • Mountain Flight Training – Topic: Survival - As the temperatures drop, it’s time to carefully consider survival and your routes. I have frequently told pilots I fly with, if you look down and imagine a circle below you at a 45 degree angle from your airplane and you don’t like the thought of (1) landing in that circle and (2) the challenge […]
  • Learn Mountain Flying Basics – Route Planning - One of the most basic yet necessary strategic skills related to mountain flying is route planning. It’s critical you know what your plane is capable of and plan a route that can be flown. Even the most modest performing aircraft can fly the rockies if you take the time to find the good route that […]
  • Mountain CFI Contact Info – Schedule a flight… Ask a question… Share your opinion… - Alpine Flight School operates 7 days per week on a scheduled appointment basis. Alpine Flight School is located adjacent to the Eagle County Regional Airport. To schedule rental, flight training, or ground training, please call our office at (970) 401-5105. We look forward to serving you. Mailing Address: Alpine Flight School P.O. Box 1611 Gypsum, […]
  • About Alpine Flight School – About our flight school, how we work, what we think… - Alpine Flight School operates at Eagle County Regional Airport and provides flight instruction in accordance with FFA Part 61. Every element of our operation emphasizes safety. We operate a modern Diamond DA-20-C1 aircraft under a rigid maintenance program. The Diamond DA-20-C1 is touted as having the best safety record in the business as well as […]
  • Mountain Flying Instruction – Mountain Flying Course in the Heart of the Colorado Rockies - Have you ever wanted to venture into the mountains with your airplane, but worried that you may not be ready for the challenge? If you want to fly in the mountains, the best idea is to get some mountain flight instruction from a qualified flight instruction that specializes in mountain flying. The team of instructors […]
  • Flight Training and Rental Aircraft at Eagle Airport Colorado – Alpine Flight School offers the DA-20-C1 Katana Eclipse for Training and Rental - Our Training Aircraft, the DA-20-C1 Katana Eclipse Alpine Flight School utilizes the Diamond DA-20 Katana for initial and instrument flight training. We believe the DA-20 is one of the finest training aircraft available for many reasons. Imagine taking the ultimate 2 seat sports car and adding wings. That’s the feeling you get when you take […]
  • Mountain Flying Course - 1 and 2 day Mountain Flying courses in Colorado If you want to fly in the mountains, the best idea is to get some mountain flight instruction from a qualified flight instruction that specializes in mountain flying. The team of instructors at Alpine Flight Instruction can provide just that training. Central Colorado offers incredible natural […]
  • Getting a Mountain Flying Lesson in Vail - For pilots visiting the Vail Valley, Mountain Flying is a great way to breakup the time.There are a tremendous number or great reasons to visit the Vail Valley…. whether summer or winter, there is always something to do.  Skiing, hiking, biking, golf, the list goes on and on.  While you’re visiting here consider another great […]
  • Eagle County Regional Airport Flight Instruction - Flight Instruction at Eagle County Regional AirportLoren French, the operator of MountainCFI.com offers flight instruction in the Central Colorado Rockies and Western Slope of Colorado.  Close proximity to Eagle County Regional Airport and Glenwood Springs Aiport. Loren offers flight training in single and mult-engine aircraft, complex, high-performance, as well as single engine sea plane training.  […]
  • iPad, A Great Tool for Aviation & Mountain Flying - My new iPad is a great tool for aviation and instruction.In the last couple months I’ve become fairly proficient with my new Apple iPad.  By aviation standards the device is downright cheap, and what it provides is incredible.  In the coming months I’ll go into specificas about some of the apps I really like, but […]
  • IFR Mountain Flying | Instrument Flight Rules Considerations - Considerations When Planning IFR in the MountainsA couple years ago I had a Private Pilot come to Eagle for a two day mountain flight training course.  As with all pilots that attend this training, the starting place is a discussion about the type of flying they do, the flying they plan to do, skill level, […]
  • Aviation Accident Cause vs. Prevention - Knowing the Cause of an Accident Doesn’t Mean We Know How to Prevent ItFor the last 2 days the front page of the newspapers here in Vail Colorado have carried headlines of yet another unfortunate mountain crash.  In this latest accident the pilot was alone and crashed his Cessna 182 into the Holy Cross wilderness […]
  • Winter Mountain Flying - Different Seasons Create Different Experiences for Learning to Fly in the MountainsThe ceilings are low, the visibility decreasing.  I look out at the airfield and a winter storm is rolling in… Not early, not late, just when we would expect to start seeing regular snow.  There will probably be no flying for the rest of […]
  • Excellent Training Resource for Mountain Flying - A great online resource for Mountain FlyingI frequently get e-mails asking for recommendations on the best books, online training and videos for the topic of mountain flying.  Usually, whenever I schedule a student for the training they also ask… "Should I read anything before I come?" In terms of books, Sparky Emerson has a couple […]
  • Automation Overload - Can using too much automation be a bad thing? In recent weeks I’ve had the opportunity to go Cirrus checkout, and then go though Cirrus Standardized Instructor (CSIP)training with another flight instructor. On a couple flights I was a back seat observer watching the other instructor being checked out and the instructing instructor go through […]
  • 1977 Tenerife Spain Accident - Before there were proper communications structure and terminology. On March 27th, 1977 a chain of events occurred that resulted in gross misunderstandings between an air traffic controller and the flight crew of a 747.  This miscommunication and misunderstanding ultimately resulted in the Captain of the 747 starting his take-off run when he was not cleared […]
  • Mountain Flying Instruction - Mountain Flying Course in the Heart of the Colorado Rockies Have you ever wanted to venture into the mountains with your airplane, but worried that you may not be ready for the challenge? If you want to fly in the mountains, the best idea is to get some mountain flight instruction from a qualified flight […]
  • Perpetuating Aerodynamic Myth - An interesting piece of news reporting from the Denver Post. A couple days ago the Denver Post printed a story about a Plane Crash near Denver.  The following is an excerpt from that article, which a link to has been provided at the bottom of this post. "Jay Loar, an Erie resident who was goose […]
  • CRM is about more than just being nice! - The ingredients of good Crew Resource Management If there could ever be a major aviation accident that could be considered humorous, Continental Airlines flight 1943 would definitely be the one.  In February of 1996, a Douglass DC-9 landed in Houston Texas with the wheels still retracted.  All passengers escaped the aircraft without injury.  This accident illustrates […]
  • Humans Learn From Mistakes - Resolving problems of hazardous attitudes or behavior. I think one of the greatest fallibilities of humans is that we really only learn from mistakes.  That is to say, in very few instances to we anticipate problems well in advance of the first occurrence of a given problem occurring.  The manner in which we learn; therefore, […]
  • Flight Training Requirements - How long does it take to learn to fly? Probably one of the most common reasons people don’t learn to fly is because they don’t understand the difficulty, costs or time commitments required for the endeavor.  Usually, would-be students are driven away from learning to fly because they believe the process will take years of […]
  • Aircraft Checklists - The importance of learning to use and using checklists. One element of inital flight training that new pilots often rebel against is the use of checklists.  Over and over I hear brand new students pilots ask the same questions.  Why do I need to use a checklist, why not just memorize the items and operate the […]
  • Stall / Spin Training - Thoughts on spin training and unusual stalls. Yesterday I flew with a pilot to conduct a flight review.  We had a discussion about stalls and spins and why understanding the nature of a spin was so important.  He was flying a Cessna 210 and one of his comments was basically that he thought he would […]
  • Pilot Training | Building and Screening Safe Pilots - Should instructors tell students they’re not suitable to become pilots? This morning I was greeted by my monthly copy of BugSmasher.  BugSmasher is the newsletter produced by Dick Weinberg, a Flight Instructor, Airport Manager of GWS (Glenwood Springs, CO) and former ATC god.  If you want to get on his mailing then e-mail me and I’ll […]
  • Training Pilots & Flight Instructors - Building Up vs. Tearing Down An old pilot once asked me "Do you why they call it a cockpit?" I didn’t know, and his answer was that you had to be a little cocky to sit up there. What he was getting at was that good pilots have a strong self confidence paired with a […]
  • Mountain CFI | Open Posting Policy - I want to know what other pilots think… The most important goal I have for this web site is to promote flight safety.  I believe that flight safety can be enhanced with learning, open communication, discussion and ideas from the most diverse and broad population of pilots that are out there.   I’ve told my students […]
  • Removing Frost from the Wings - Here’s some thoughts about frost on the wings… I’m sure many of you have had your plans for an early morning departure squashed due to a frost covered airplane.  I know I have! So what do you do about it?  Simply ignoring the issue isn’t an option.  The wing needs to be clean.  This can […]
  • Mountain Flight Safety - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Aviation Safety Counselor - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • High Altitude Flight Instructor - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Mountain Flight Instructor - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Colorado Flight Training - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • High Altitude Flight Training - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Eagle Airport Flight Training - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • High Altitude Flight Instruction - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Eagle County Airport Flight Instruction - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains.  Our primary base of […]
  • Colorado Flight Instruction - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Mountain Flight Instruction - Welcome To Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • High Altitude Airports - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Desert Flying - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Flying in the Colorado Rockies - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Mountain Flight Training - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Mountain Checkout - Welcome to Mountain CFI The goal of Mountain CFI is to provide the very best instruction and information for safe mountain flying.  Mountain CFI was created to provide a source for general educational information, ground instruction and flight instruction pertaining to all aspects of operating general aviation aircraft in the mountains. At Mountain CFI, our […]
  • Safety Lecture/Seminar Presentation Notes | Loren French - Downloadable notes from safety lectures presented by Loren FrenchNo lectures or seminars are currently planned.
  • About Alpine Flight School - About our flight school, how we work, what we think… Alpine Flight School operates at Eagle County Regional Airport and provides flight instruction in accordance with FFA Part 61. Every element of our operation emphasizes safety. We operate a modern Diamond DA-20-C1 aircraft under a rigid maintenance program. The Diamond DA-20-C1 is touted as having […]
  • Rates – Flight Instruction, Groun Instruction, Aircraft Rental - Rates for flight & ground training as well as aircraft rental at Eagle Airport Aircraft Rental DA-20-C1 Katana Evolution Rental* $139.00 / Hour Cessna 177RG** $209.00 / Hour Instructional Rates Flight Instruction in Alpine Flight Traning Katana $55.00 / Hour Flight Instruction in Customer Owned Aircraft $85.00 / Hour Ground Instruction $55.00 / Hour Other […]
  • Mountain CFI Contact Info - Schedule a flight… Ask a question… Share your opinion… Alpine Flight School operates 7 days per week on a scheduled appointment basis. Alpine Flight School is located adjacent to the Eagle County Regional Airport. To schedule rental, flight training, or ground training, please call our office at (970) 401-5105. We look forward to serving you. […]
  • About the Author | Qualifications | Loren French - Learn from a mountain flying pro and author of MountainCFI.com Probably the most important thing to know about me is that I learned to fly in the Colorado Rockies, and I have spent the last 15 years flying and teaching extensively in the mountains.  My students fly a variety of aircraft ranging from Malibu’s to 152’s, […]