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Back country flying is a lot of different things. It has its roots in the barnstorming days of early aviation and the pioneering feats of Alaskan bush pilots. It’s usually done in the mountains or in remote locations where there is little or none of the standard aviation support services. The runways are often dirt or grass without runway lighting, communications, weather information, fuel or an FBO, and some even lack a windsock. A field elevation of more than 4,000’, a length of 2,000’ or less, and a width of 20’ or less are common for runways in the back country. You are often left entirely to your own devices in the back country unless you travel with other airplanes.
So why do it? Speaking for myself, I just love the adventure, freedom, and fun that comes with flying over vast tracks of uninhabited terrain to land on a tiny strip located in pristine country. You can get access to locations that can take several days to reach by foot or horseback. By plane, it may be less than an hour from the nearest airport with pavement and fuel. That means you can enjoy places that you may never have seen if it weren’t for the access by air.
Like the rest of aviation, back country flying offers a wide range of flying challenges, from relatively safe and simple to very hazardous and complex. The skills required to do this type of flying are not taught in standard pilot training and you’ll want to get instruction before heading off into the backcountry. There are a number of CFI’s and a few flying schools that specialize in back country instruction. See the Connections page for more information on these resources.
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