Colorado Establishes Mountain Pass VFR GPS Waypoints

Navigating Colorado’s mountainous terrain has long posed challenges for aviators, requiring careful planning, skill, and an understanding of high-altitude weather conditions. Now, thanks to a groundbreaking initiative led by the Colorado Division of Aeronautics, pilots have a new tool to enhance safety: VFR RNAV GPS waypoints for key mountain passes.

The project began when Colorado Aeronautics Director David Ulane took inspiration from a similar effort in Alaska, where waypoints were established to assist pilots in navigating mountain passes. Recognizing the potential safety benefits for Colorado’s high-altitude environment, Ulane set Aviation Planner Kip McClain on the task of bringing this vision to life. The goal was clear—improve flight safety, ensure pilots have reliable GPS navigation through mountain passes, and position Colorado as the first state in the continental U.S. to implement such a system.

To develop a comprehensive and practical solution, McClain collaborated with mountain flying experts from the Colorado Pilots Association (CPA). His first discussions with CPA’s mountain flying training coordinator, Brian Brieske, led to the involvement of Bill Standerfer, a renowned mountain flying instructor. The team gained even more expertise with the addition of Bill Dunn, a retired FAA National Airspace and Procedures specialist and a 40-year FAA veteran, and 2025 Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame inductee.

The development team quickly realized that Colorado’s mountain passes differ significantly from those in Alaska. While Alaskan pilots use lower, longer passes to fly below weather systems, Colorado’s passes are much higher and shorter, requiring different techniques. Colorado pilots are generally trained to fly over the passes using orographic winds and thermals, always crossing at a 45-degree angle. These factors influenced the selection and formatting of waypoints.

Rather than marking the most technical and challenging passes, the team focused on charting the safest and most commonly used routes through the mountains. This approach aimed to guide pilots toward preferred paths while discouraging the use of riskier, more complex passes.

A Phased Approach to Implementation

• Phase 1: On May 10, 2024, McClain submitted the first set of waypoint requests to Mark Payne at the FAA charting office. These waypoints, covering ten mountain passes primarily along the Continental Divide, were officially added to FAA VFR Sectional charts on July 11, 2024, and became available in aviation navigation apps like ForeFlight and SkyVector.
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• Phase 2: Submitted in October 2024 and officially charted on December 26, 2024, this round introduced ten additional waypoints that included four routinely used but previously uncharted mountain passes.
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• Phase 3: Submitted on January 8, 2025, and scheduled for publication on February 20, 2025, this final phase installs a caution box on VFR sectional charts, alerting pilots to the hazards of mountain flying. It also includes a special notice in the Southwest U.S. FAA Chart Supplement (p. 535), providing additional safety guidance.

VFR GPS Waypoint Charting Depiction

With these waypoints now integrated into FAA charts and electronic flight systems, pilots can navigate the mountainous western half of Colorado with increased confidence. Simply entering a waypoint ID into a GPS system or aviation app provides direct routing to the designated pass. This modern tool complements traditional navigation methods like paper charts, improving accuracy and situational awareness.

This initiative would not have been possible without the collaboration of dedicated experts. The CPA’s wealth of mountain flying knowledge was instrumental, and Bill Dunn played a pivotal role in drafting waypoint submissions, formatting data, and leveraging his FAA connections to streamline the approval process. The Division of Aeronautics is grateful for the selfless contributions of Dunn, Standerfer, and Brieske, as well as the FAA’s Mark Payne, whose support helped bring this project to fruition.



An example of a flight plan created on ForeFlight from Centennial Airport (APA) to Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) using five VFR GPS Waypoints; VPILK, VPTTC, VPNCH, VPMRL, and VPCIR.Colorado’s rugged terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions make mountain flying both challenging and potentially hazardous. By implementing these VFR RNAV GPS waypoints, the Division of Aeronautics is at the forefront of aviation safety, ensuring that pilots have the resources they need to navigate the state’s mountains safely. This initiative is a major step forward in supporting the aviation community and reducing risk for those who take to Colorado’s skies.