Aircraft Awakenings

Now that winter snows have passed and the foliage is turning green, its time to get out and go flying. If you havent committed aviation since the seasons first snowfall, its going to take some effort to get both you and your craft ready to go. You might presume when pilots go out to resume flying in the spring after a winter hiatus theres an increase of certain kinds of accidents. An examination of the accident records for 1996 and 1997 and again for 2003 just didnt show any patterns. Runway loss of control (RLOC) accidents account for a significant portion of general aviation accidents throughout the year but theres no particular spike during the months many of us are out trying to knock off the rust. If there is an increase of RLOC accidents in the spring, its lost in the noise of the overall increase in flying.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite accident data showing no specific spike in spring accidents, pilots returning to flying after a winter hiatus must perform a comprehensive review of both their aircraft and personal skills, emphasizing proper takeoff and landing techniques.
• Aircraft preparation involves a detailed physical inspection for corrosion, wear on moving parts, tires, and brakes, with recommendations to involve a mechanic for an annual review or to address identified squawks.
• Pilot readiness requires a ground school refresher, mental practice of procedures, updating navigation tools, and is highly recommended to include an initial flight with an instructor to regain proficiency and confidence before planning and executing solo trips.

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