Mountain Air - KSLC Hub Charter Route 1


Salt Lake City Hub's Charter Route 1

This particular charter route is a VFR round robin flight around the Green River area beginning at Carbon County Airport in Central Utah. These legs are easily flyable in the Mountain Air Beaver, but to make it "sporty," give it a try in a Cessna 172 or Cessna 182. Included is a WAC Chart providing information on the airports for this route. It is strongly recommended you utilize Verne Cotton's (MTN005's) 3D Utah Terrain Mesh for this route. Have fun!!! Download the WAC Chart here! « = Difficulty Rating, according to MTN199 (1 = easiest, 5 = most difficult); The rating considers the entire leg, including both departure and arrival airports and their status with respect to runway length, type of runway, approach/departure requirements, etc. Other factors that are not included in the rating are type of aircraft, weather, etc.

Leg 1 - Carbon County (KPUC) to Tavapats (UT09): «««
Time: 15:30 local time
Scenario: A local rancher requests a flight to his Tavapats Ranch in order to pickup 200 pounds of supplies. Coincidentally this ranch has no serviceable roads to its location.
Navigation & Advisories: Set NAV radio to Carbon VOR (115.50) and fly eastbound on the 090 radial. Tavapats Ranch is located at approximately 28nm DME from Carbon. The ranch is situated above 9000 feet MSL at the top of the 2nd mountain range as you fly eastbound. Be advised the grass runway is short when considering density altitude on hot days. And also be advised if you over-run to the east, you'll be dropping several thousand feet, hehe. Keep in mind this is an easy, easy facility in the Beaver, but the C172 would make it rather challenging, especially on takeoff.

Leg 2 - Tavapats (UT09) to Rogers Roost (UT06): «««
Time: 16:15 local time
Scenario: Carry the 200 pounds of supplies to the rancher's hired help who are waiting at Rogers Roost in their pickup.
Navigation & Advisories: To locate Rogers Roost, depart Tavapats heading SE-bound (about 140 dgs) until identifying Interstate-70 (I-70 is approximately 30 miles SE of Tavapats) which runs west-to-east. Rogers Roost is located just north of I-70, about 2-3 miles east of the Canyonlands turnoff road. This is an EASY approach and landing on a gravel runway, but beware of density altitude on takeoff at Tavapats which skews the difficulty to a higher rating on this leg.

Leg 3 - Rogers Roost (UT06) to Mineral Canyon (UT75): ««««
Time: 17:15 local time
Scenario: Mineral Canyon was recently spotlighted in "Pilot Getaways" magazine (I forgot which issue). Coincidentally this recognition of the area prompted a new movie to be filmed on location at Mineral Canyon. This flight is a ferry flight to pickup some passengers (movie stars) who are ready for some needed rest.
Navigation & Advisories: Mineral Canyon can be difficult to locate, unless utilizing your GPS unit. Try and resist the urge to utilize your GPS by navigating via the included WAC Chart. The airport is situated along the Green River, down inside the river canyon. From Rogers Roost fly westbound along I-70 until identifying the Green River. Follow the river southbound until you visually can identify the dramatic S-turns in the canyon. Once you pass the last S-turn, begin making your approach from the north by following the river and gradually descending into the canyon -- Don't let the cliff walls scare you away! (I provided a zoomed-in mini-map for further clarification). The airport will be situated along the river on your left-hand side. Only one approach is possible since there is a cliff wall at the end of the dirt runway. Make it a good one!

Leg 4 - Mineral Canyon (UT75) to Hanksville (KHVE): «««
Time: 18:00 local time
Scenario: The movie stars are ready for a break and need you to fly them to Hanksville where their much-needed "rest" will take place (in a local Bed & Breakfast).
Navigation & Advisories: Depart Mineral Canyon westbound. Be aware of density altitude. Although the runway is situated at 3900 feet, on a hot day the 2000 foot runway can seem more like 1000 feet, not to mention its dirt. Follow the river canyon to gain sufficient altitude and when able proceed direct to Hanksville VORTAC (115.90). Hanksville has a long, paved runway that no one should complain about, but if you would like a small challenge, utilize the 2000 foot dirt strip, runway 18/36.

Leg 5 - Hanksville (KHVE) to Carbon County (KPUC): «
Time: 18:30 local time
Scenario: The "stars" have been dropped off and now its your turn to make a solo ferry flight back to Carbon County. If you're behind schedule (or flying late fall/early spring) you're likely to get a nice sunset view during this leg.
Navigation & Advisories: Follow V208 out of Hanksville to Carbon County. Carbon County has a long, paved 8300 foot runway that should not give anyone problems. Keep in mind Carbon County is where I (MTN199) flew to on my 2nd "real world" cross-country solo. Great place!