Mountain Flying in Switzerland Part 1: Col de Coux

Welcome to beautiful Geneva, Switzerland. Today is a gorgeous day to be taking your first mountain flight in the Swiss Alps. Your roundtrip will take you over two mountain passes, an airport in the middle of a steep sided canyon and another airport in the heart of the Alps. This first leg takes you up and over a mountain pass named Col de Coux and down to that airport in a canyon, which is in a town called Sion. Along the way you’ll be able to enjoy all the beautiful scenery. With you today is the chief flight instructor from the Aeroclub de Genève. She’ll help you navigate and also handle all the radio communications, but it’ll be up to you to safely arrive at your destination. You are the Pilot in Command! Your Cessna 172 is parked just off the grass runway at the Geneva Airport. Your instructor has already done the pre-flight check and is waiting for you inside the airplane.

Aircraft

• Cessna Skyhawk SP Model 172

Objectives

• Make it over the Col de Coux mountain pass (7500 ASL)
• Enjoy the beautiful Swiss scenery
• Land safely at Sion Airport (LSGS)

Flight Planner

Sample Dialog

Hello, I’m excited to show you some of the mountain passes and beautiful scenery we have in the area. Before we start, this would be a good time to review the flight plan and take another look at the map, if you want to. When you’re ready, go ahead and start the engine.

Geneva Tower, Cessna 148EL holding short runway 23 grass, requesting departure to the East.

In case you’re new to mountain flying, let me give you two important tips. First, when flying in a valley it’s best to stay on the right side. This way you can easily make a 180 degree turn in case you have to. Second, when crossing a mountain pass, the minimum recommended altitude is 1000 feet above the pass. This is why we’re flying at 7,500 feet. I know we could fly higher, but I want you to experience what it’s really like to fly in the mountains.