Ash Wyllie wrote:
Matt Whiting opined


Ash Wyllie wrote:

Matt Whiting opined



Dan wrote:


My early years of flying were spent in the Midwest where as long as you
were over 2000 MSL, there were very few obstacles to hit and no
terrain. Now that I have moved out West (Phoenix) I am increasingly
paranoid about hitting terrain at night.

Choosing a cruise altitude is easy (well above anything even close to
your route). However, what I worry about is my letdown to pattern
altitude at the destination airport as well as departure. Short of
filing IFR (which carries with it Oxygen requirements for some local
MEAs) what other strategies do you all use? Any "systems" or
tricks to share, or is it pretty much just look at the sectional and
make a plan?


I tend to fly IFR at night so you can always fly a full approach if you
are really concerned. Often the light is good enough that you can still
see the mountains and other such obstacles. Study the sectional well
and know where the obstacles are located and you should be find.


Or just fly an approach VFR. Get flight following if you are worried about
IFR traffic.


You might want to read the subject before posting. Saves the
embarrassment of making a completely irrelevant post.


Quoting from the original post:

"...However, what I worry about is my letdown to pattern
altitude at the destination airport as well as departure. Short of
filing IFR..."

I think that I am on topic. Perhaps I shouldn't have attached my suggestion to
the end of your post, but I didn't think that it mattered where I commented.

It is considered good net form to reply to a message that actually has
something in it relevant to your reply. And this is still not the case
as even what you quoted mentions nothing about IFR traffic.

Matt