Tips for safe winter flying

A new blog by the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee offers tips and best practices for safe winter operations.

The post begins by acknowledging that some pilots may opt to not fly in the cold winter weather, while others take advantage of the “uncrowded skies, boosted performance, and winter’s unparalleled natural beauty.”

If you do choose to fly during the winter, it’s imperative that you recognize the risks inherent in winter flying.

Be patient

One thing about winter flying is that everything takes longer, from choosing the appropriate clothes to wear while flying to taking extra time with your preflight.

Some tips offered include:

• During preflight, ensure the aircraft is free from ice, snow, and frost.
• Be sure to check all control surfaces for freedom of movement. Sometimes water can freeze in control linkages, landing gear, brakes, and even in prop spinners.
• If you can’t collect a fuel sample, it may mean that water in your fuel tank has frozen in and around the fuel drain. You’ll want to ensure that fuel is free to flow, that the tank cap seals are serviceable, and that the vents are unobstructed.
• Exhaust system integrity is essential to check at any time of year, but especially in winter when cabin heat is used. A carbon monoxide detector is a good investment in safety. 
• If you need to preheat the engine before starting, be sure to follow your engine manufacturer’s recommendations. Even if preheating is not required, allow plenty of time for the engine to come to operating temperature.
• Use the appropriate type of engine oil for your conditions. Multi-viscosity oils are formulated for a wide range of temperatures.

The post also gives several tips on taxiing safely, as well as having the proper equipment on board to survive if forced to land in hostile winter conditions.

The blog wraps up with a plethora of resources to increase your own expertise in winter operations. You can read it at GAJSCorg/Winter-Ops.

And please share your own tips on flying safely in the winter in the comments below.