Ready For Winter

Having owned an aircraft maintenance facility, Ive seen a lot of expensive damage to airframes and engines over the years directly resulting from improper winter care by the owner. Winter flying can be very rewarding and enjoyable for you and your passengers with the proper planning. But if winter flying isnt your cup of hot tea, and your airplane will sit outside, you may wish to consider what you can do to make that harsh…

A Bartlett

Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Proper winter aircraft care, encompassing specific maintenance like fresh oil, battery checks, and draining sumps, is critical to prevent costly damage and ensure safe operations, whether the aircraft is active or stored.
Operational safety during winter requires complete removal of all ice and snow before flight and meticulous engine preheating (especially warming the oil slowly and evenly) to prevent component wear.
Effective winter preparation also includes strategic aircraft parking, consideration for long-term preservation if inactive, and pilot readiness with appropriate gear and a carbon monoxide detector.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Having owned an aircraft maintenance facility, I’ve seen a lot of expensive damage to airframes and engines over the years directly resulting from improper winter care by the owner. Winter flying can be very rewarding and enjoyable for you and your passengers with the proper planning. But if winter flying isn’t your cup of hot tea, and your airplane will sit outside, you may wish to consider what you can do to make that harsh environment a bit easier on it.

Regardless of whether the airplane will be active during the winter months or secured until spring, we can prepare for the season by identifying some of the pitfalls pilots and owners may encounter. For example, owners may wish to perform the manufacturer’s recommended engine and airframe storage procedures if the airplane will be in non-flying status. Others may wish to take steps designed to ensure safe, reliable operations, many of which may fall well within the FAA’s preventive maintenance rules owners can perform. Regardless, now’s a good time to think about how we’ll handle winter.