*Please be advised that this is a print of a scan of an Advisory Circular from 1967. The quality is decent, but not great. It's a piece of history that is hard to find in print.

What is Terrain Flying?

Terrain flying refers to the practice of piloting an aircraft in close proximity to the ground and through various types of terrain such as mountains, valleys, forests, deserts, and water bodies. It involves navigating through rugged landscapes and natural obstacles while maintaining a safe altitude and distance from the ground.

Terrain flying requires specialized skills, training, and knowledge of factors such as terrain elevation, wind patterns, weather conditions, and the aircraft's performance capabilities. Pilots engaging in terrain flying must be adept at terrain awareness, obstacle avoidance, and precise maneuvering to ensure the safety of the flight.

This type of flying is often necessary for activities such as aerial surveying, search and rescue operations, agricultural crop dusting, and recreational flying in remote or scenic locations. However, terrain flying also presents unique challenges and risks, including the potential for encounters with unseen obstacles, sudden weather changes, and limited emergency landing options.

Due to these challenges, terrain flying typically requires pilots to adhere to strict safety protocols, undergo specialized training, and often consult advisory materials such as the Terrain Flying Advisory Circular (AC 91-15) to mitigate risks and ensure safe flight operations.

This pocket-size booklet is designed by FAA as a flying "tool" for the average private pilot. It contains a composite picture of the observations, opinions, warnings, and advice from veteran pilots. Their experience and knowledge, if heeded, can make flying more pleasant and, above all, safer.

The list of contributors to this booklet is long. It is certain that one pilot could not have gathered all of this knowledge through personal experience. It is of equal certainty that each pilot, who reads this booklet, owes these men who gave gen-erously of their experience his thanks - and, perhaps someday, his life or the lives of others.

The FAA is happy to present this booklet in the name of all the people who have contributed to its writing.