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:

Aircraft owners must perform specific winter maintenance, including fresh winter-grade oil, electrical system checks, draining sumps to prevent ice, and lubricating components, whether the aircraft is active or stored, and follow preservation procedures for long-term inactivity.
Safe winter operations require careful planning for parking to avoid snow/ice traps, *complete* removal of all snow and ice from the aircraft before flight, and exercising extreme caution when moving on frozen surfaces.
Proper engine preheating is crucial for air-cooled aircraft in cold weather to prevent excessive wear and ensure adequate oil flow, emphasizing slow and even warming of the entire engine before applying full power.

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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.