Winter Weather Flying
- annaleoni05
- Jan 18
- 2 min read
Unlike the U.S Postal Service, rain, sleet, or snow can limit us from operation. Early morning cold starts, buildup of frost or ice on wings overnight, or flying through freezing or below freezing temperature aloft can pose problems for GA aircraft.
Frost, a common nuisance to see on the aircraft during a cold morning block needs to be removed before flight. Besides the risks of flying with frost, the regulation 91.527 states that "No pilot may take off an airplane that has frost, ice, or snow adhering to any propeller, windshield, stabilizing or control surface". And it makes perfect sense why that regulation is in place. Frost, or ice for that matter, when built up on wings for example, can disrupt the smooth airflow over the wings. This in turn, reduces the amount of lift an airfoil can generate. Unfortunatley, this has caused many aviation accidents in the critical phases of flight such as takeoff or landing. In addition, any ice buildups on the wing add to the weight of the plane itself, increasing the amount of fuel burn, lift required, etc.
Another risk of flying in the winter without anti and de-ice equipment is flight through icing conditions aloft. Flying through rain, mist, a cloud, or any other form of visible moisture while in below freezing temperatures is a sure way to pick up icing. As an IFR pilot, ensure to check for zulu airmets, winds aloft data along your entire route and altitude for multiple hours, sigmets for icing. When in doubt, don't go!
Finally, another common risk that can be encountered is failing to let your engine properly warm up after a cold start. Recently, I saw a video of a Cirrus crashing shortly after takeoff due to pilot error. A preliminary report by the NTSB stated the facts of the case, such as the pilot attempted to start the plane 14 times. Eventually, the battery grew weak and then the pilot had the plane plugged to the GPU, which helped it start. He taxied out shortly after startup and took off, later losing engine power and crashing.
Here is official information from the NTSB here:
When flying in winter, it is important to prepare yourself with a coat and proper winter gear, as well as preparing the plane. Ensure the wings and control surfaces are clear of ice, frost, or any other contaminets. Have the plane preheated by a mechanic, keep the plane inside a hangar, or wait till later in the day to fly. Always better to be safe than sorry!
The NTSB and the FAA provide great resources for more information on icing, frost, and other winter weather. Here are some that I have found:
FAA guidance on winter flying:
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