By Jay Williams
We all know that flying during winter brings with it a new set of problems and issues of which to be aware. That is why a proper winter preflight routine is so important to being prepared and ready for any conditions you may encounter. Here is what I do to prepare for wintertime flying.
As the cold season approaches I review the aircraft operating manual for minimum operating temperature limitations pertinent to the aircraft and the avionics installed. I also review normal start procedures with and without the use of a GPU, and when a GPU is recommended and required for use. It never hurts to review airspeed limitations for flight in icing conditions, and normal procedures for operating guidance on the use of ignitions and ice equipment.
Next, a review of the aircraft operating manual is in order to refresh my knowledge of winter operations related to aircraft operating limitations and normal and emergency procedures.
After reconnecting with relevant information from the aircraft operating manual, a thoughtful review of the company operations manual, operations specification, and winter operations manual is next. (Aero Air operates its medical flights Part 135, which requires an ops manual and ops specs.) I review company-specific clean wing requirements, and what the Twin Commander-specific critical surfaces are in terms of a pre-takeoff contamination check. I also review structural icing publications such as AOPA's "Safety Advisor, Weather #1" to bone up on structural and tailplane icing.
If given an option, I begin the preflight planning in a warm hangar, with a cup of coffee in hand. A thorough review of current and forecast weather conditions at departure and destination is always a good starting point. With a flight plan and weather in hand, I make a fuel-load decision and set line service to work.
The aircraft preflight is by the book. Flight into potential icing conditions necessitates a ground check of the ice protection equipment. Be sure to observe ice protection operating limitations and check all aircraft surfaces for contamination.
Taking these extra steps doesn't take much time, and makes me feel just a little more prepared for whatever Mother Nature has to give.
Jay Williams is a Twin Commander medical transport pilot for Aero Air in Hillsboro, Oregon.
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