CFI Tip of the Month

MarcC writes "Winter Operations:

BRRRRRR!!!! With 2 more months left in this icebox we call New England, there are a few tips that sometimes aren't widely published that can make winter flying more enjoyable.

1. Snow & Ice - It's inevitable, but unless you are part of the minority and have a hangar space, your plane is going to get a nice coating of snow and/or ice ….

2. Starter/Bendix - One of the things the cold weather does to us is to reek havoc with with instruments and equipment. The starter Bendix is famous for not pressing into position …

3. Tie Down - One of the biggest annoyances is to get to your aircraft in the AM to find that yesterdays melt has turned into todays ice. ….

4. Tires - The same phenomena that causes the frozen ropes, does the same with tires sitting in water or slush….

5. Pre-heat - Don't forget on the extremely cold mornings ... :)

[Read More for the rest of the details]

1. Snow & Ice - It's inevitable, but unless you are part of the minority and have a hangar space, your plane is going to get a nice coating of snow and/or ice. One tip that can help out is to try to remove it at the warmest part of the day when the sun is high in the sky. It tends to be a lot easier to take off when the sun's rays have gone to work on it. So if you are flying the following morning, it might be a good idea to get the the aircraft the day before the flight and try to get the snow and ice off the plane. Since it ALL has to be taken off, it maybe nearly impossible the morning of the flight unless you can get it indoors to melt.

2. Starter/Bendix - One of the things the cold weather does to us is to reek havoc with with instruments and equipment. The starter Bendix is famous for not pressing into position on occasion when it's really cold. This means you turn the key and all you hear is a loud whine as the starter spins while not in contact with the flywheel. The solution is to engage the starter at the end of the previous flight. Just turn the key for a second so that the Bendix engages. It will stay that way until the engine starts and throws the Bendix back into it's original position.

3. Tie Down - One of the biggest annoyances is to get to your aircraft in the AM to find that yesterdays melt has turned into todays ice. That means wet tie down ropes may freeze solid making them impossible to untie. One solution might me to use straps instead of ropes. Also, nylon ropes tend to repel water a little better instead of soaking it up. If possible the day before, untie the aircraft and just chalk it so that you wont have to deal with the frozen ropes.

4. Tires - The same phenomena that causes the frozen ropes, does the same with tires sitting in water or slush. Move the aircraft out of a puddle before the freeze takes place. The tire can either get frozen in place and/or the brake can become frozen.

5. Pre-heat - Don't forget on the extremely cold mornings to pre-heat the cockpit as well as the engine. Gyro instruments like to bind and make funny noises when it's really cold. If not for the instruments, do it for the pilot's sake! :)

Happy Flying - 57 days until Spring!"

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Marc, If you don't mind a couple of additional comments:

The extreme cold reduces the available energy from the battery. If you are regularly experiencing a "stuck Bendix", this could also be a symptom of a weakening battery. It might not have enough energy to spin the starter fast enough to engage the Bendix. It may be time to replace that 4 year old battery.

When using the sun or hangar to melt off the snow and ice, be especially cautious that it doesn't flow into nooks and crannies where it can freeze up and lock the controls, or throw off the balance of balanced control surfaces.