That was probably the episode on which I ranted the most about.
Not only, Kira's performance as a pilot was completely horrendous and BS story-wise, but also the lack of reaction from the Archangel was absolute hogwash too. If the point was about escaping to sea, hell they could have just used the rough terrain to cripple the entire ZAFT division in an area filled with all kinds of technically sophisticated boobytraps.
It's because of that particular episode (and the ones involving Orb's forces abroad) that I still keep wondering why Fukuda wasted Natarle's character when she would still be of some use on the AA crew, especially on finding a way to solve the mess very swiftly with the right tactics.