Pincher Creek Winds

[dirtdr]

Was gonna fly to Pincher Creek this week. Mabee not

METAR CZPC 171900Z AUTO 25044G59KT 9SM CLR 06/M05 A2970 RMK MAX WND
25050KT AT 1824Z PRESFR SLP082=

[glcx]

CHICKEN!

[Navajo Flyer]

Thats a pretty typical day for that area, and it isn't even the windiest place in Canada.

[Jet Stream]

Where is it more windy at an airport in Canada, consistently?

[Shiny Side Up]

Was gonna fly to Pincher Creek this week. Mabee not

METAR CZPC 171900Z AUTO 25044G59KT 9SM CLR 06/M05 A2970 RMK MAX WND
25050KT AT 1824Z PRESFR SLP082=

Bah, its right down the runway. Givv'er!

[iflyforpie]

Was gonna fly to Pincher Creek this week. Mabee not

METAR CZPC 171900Z AUTO 25044G59KT 9SM CLR 06/M05 A2970 RMK MAX WND
25050KT AT 1824Z PRESFR SLP082=

Bah, its right down the runway. Givv'er!

Yep.... lots of fun awaits you after you get into the air....!

[Shiny Side Up]

Lee wave, Schmee wave.

[Big Pistons Forever]

There is a reason all the tie down spots have chains.....

[Airtids]

There is a reason all the tie down spots have chains.....

\

...because of all the 212s and 214s landing beside them? Oh, no, I was thinking of somewhere else

Bah, its right down the runway. Givv'er!

Seriously, though; once hovered a C150 at the end of the runway. Got her tucked away, and then hopped in the airport car and drove to town. Something weird about cruising down the highway and sticking your hand out the window to no air resistance.

It was a day just like IFFP posted. Almost put the machine down twice in the back-country after getting caught in a wave. Learned a LOT about mountain flying that day!

[iflyforpie]

There is a reason all the tie down spots have chains.....

\

...because of all the 212s and 214s landing beside them? Oh, no, I was thinking of somewhere else

That's why I park at the east end of the ramp. Okanagan Helicopters is long gone.

[dirtdr]

Lee wave.... Had to look that up.

Didnt even look at th GFA. TAF was enough to postpone.

Question:

That mountain wave looks intimidating. I know the glider guys love it. I would assume they dont like it as extreme as it was today?

[oldtimer]

Saw a picture on the Calgary TV evening news that the wind blew a truck off the highway and into the ditch near Granum, which is just east of Pincher Creek. Quite common on the northbound section of HWY 2, especially with campers. The winds there can be a bitch. But at the airport, the strong winds are always right down the runway and it is so flat around the airport that you can sit in the hangar door for 3 days watching your dog/daughter run away from home so that severe turbulance is usually not a major concern. Now go past Cowley and get close to Turtle Mountain and that is a complete different story.
The only problem you will have is trying to turn around and taxiing downwind, especially with a high wing airplane.
Also, if the wind is calm, do not stand to the west of the locals because they have a problem falling over without the wind to hold them up. The normal stance is a list to the west. Lethbridge stole Pincher Creek's idea for a windsock. A 2 foot diameter steel ball held out at 45 degrees by a ocean going ship's anchor chain.

[X-Savior]

I have landed some years ago in Pincher with winds 37G42 down the runway and I can without reservation say that ANY winds over 30kts is a bad idea here. Do not forget that the terrain in the area is hills so you WILL take a beating before you ever make it to touchdown.

[Big Pistons Forever]

First time in there was with the DC 6. 30 + kts about 60 degrees off the runway. I had so much crab when I started the flare the cockpit was over the runway edge to put the mains in the middle of the not very wide runway. It wasn't pretty but I got the job done. When we wrestled her to a stop the Captains only comment was "Sure glad it was your leg ! "

[Beefitarian]

4:17zulu, I was jealous when I read.

with the DC 6

I'm over it now, but that sounds pretty cool.

[crazy_aviator]

once landed a c-150 in a sandstorm in the us , prearranged 9 folks to grab the plane winds were gusting to 95 mph on the meter,,,