Its no surprise that many pilots go into hibernation during the winter. Winter flying has its own set of risks and operational challenges. Its cold. Theres the potential for frost on the wings and ice in the clouds. The winds are generally stronger. There are icy ramps and runways with poor traction. Oh, and did we mention that its cold?
Cold temperatures cause aircraft altimeters to indicate higher than true altitude, significantly reducing required obstacle clearance on instrument procedures.
To mitigate this risk, the FAA now mandates cold-temperature altitude adjustments at designated "Cold Temperature Restricted Airports" when temperatures fall below a critical limit.
Pilots must calculate and apply these required adjustments to specified procedure altitudes (intermediate segments, missed approach, and final segment MDA/DA) to maintain proper obstacle protection, notifying ATC when applicable.
It’s no surprise that many pilots go into hibernation during the winter. Winter flying has its own set of risks and operational challenges. It’s cold. There’s the potential for frost on the wings and ice in the clouds. The winds are generally stronger. There are icy ramps and runways with poor traction. Oh, and did we mention that it’s cold?
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