Points for Pilots

At 14,000 ft MSL over Rollins Pass east of Denver For most of us, the highest altitude of flight is 12,500 ft MSL, with an increase to 14,000 ft MSL allowed for up to 30 minutes. Due to these restrictions, crossing the Rockies requires careful planning. Easiest Crossing The easiest crossing is at El Paso, TX. The highest point there is at 7,200 ft MSL.  A More Challenging Crossing A bit more altitude is required at Albuquerque, NM, where the highest point is at 7,800 ft MSL due to the Sandia Mountains. If you choose an altitude above 9,400 ft MSL, then you can overfly the Albuquerque class C space and get a nice view of the international airport, sometimes with a jet taking off or landing below. If you cross the Sandia Mountains from east to west and have westerly winds, as is typically the case, be prepared for light to moderate turbulence below 12,000 ft MSL.  To avoid this, you should start climbing toward 12,500 ft ahead of time. We typically start th...