One of my short local flights last week reminded me that the time of year has a lot to do with what I can expect from wind conditions. It’s winter in the Northeast, and the season brings some pretty reliable presumptions. It’ll be colder, and the days are shorter. In clouds, icing assumes center stage on the risk list, taking over for thunderstorms during the warmer months. But some of the little things also come into play — like wind.
I planned one of my simple ‘get up and into the sky’ flights on a day forecast to be a little less bone chilling. It was sunny and calm that morning, and I was looking forward to a pleasant flight. Even when no trips are scheduled, I like to fly at least once a week, just to keep procedures fresh in my brain, and to remind the muscles in my head, hands and feet where everything is in the cockpit. Flying once a week can be a challenge in winter. In planning this day, I allowed the flight to slip to early afternoon, partly because it would be that much warmer.
