Weather is a fickle mistress. She’s unpredictable, unreliable and inconsolable at every turn. Her rein on Earth is defined by her vicious mood swings and tempest tantrums. For a pilot, she is a spoiled child, prodding at the pilot’s courage and relentlessness. The only way to beat her is to make the proper preparations to avoid what heinous maelstrom she has methodically stirred up in the sky. In the end, it is the pilot who is prepared who has the last laugh.
Aircraft maintenance is the single most important thing in a pilot’s arsenal. Keeping up with what your plane regularly needs will keep the iron bird in the air longer. A well kept plane will outperform whatever spell Mother Nature has concocted, so long as it has the right maintenance and modifications. Understanding this is crucial. Larger aircrafts have different requirements than smaller private planes when it comes to dealing with weather. Cold weather effects each model separately, so it becomes almost mandatory for a pilot to know what his plane requirements are and when the last time these requirements have been tested and approved.
Winter weather conditions are the worst. A pilot should always be sure to make any necessary alterations to their aircraft in accordance with the coming season. One of the big concerns is water contaminating the fuel systems. If ignored, water can freeze in mid-flight, block the flow of fuel and stall out the engine. Problems like this are plenty in a plane and can be easily addressed with standard check-ups and tests before each take off. It is a tedious repetition, but in the long run, being too safe is better than being too sorry.
The beauty of owning an aircraft is the owner’s manual included by the manufacturer. This tell all tale will provide a pilot with detailed information about everything from what anti-corrosion compound to wax the outside surface with to where to store the plane over a long period of time (for those not wanting to fly in winter). This manual should be read cover to cover at least once while owning a plane. Still, there are several on-line communities and sites dedicated to the camaraderie of pilots and solving their dilemmas. AvStop.com is an example of this type of site.
As a pilot, preparing to risk the howl of winter or any other unyielding weather-front nature has unremittingly unleashed comes down to attentiveness. Make a list and check it twice. Track the weather patterns a week in advance. Knowing what kind of weather to expect will reveal what modifications or restrictions the airplane has or has to have for the adjacent weather. If the plane needs a winterization kit (a kit installed in planes to battle freezing), get it installed before the weather turns. Need to insulate the oil lines? These are all things that should be done before take off is even an option. That is why the best preparations for the oncoming weather or winter season will always be to anticipate and inspect. Winging it in the pilot game is never a solid strategy.
Tyler Baker; OSM Writer
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