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Winter Flying Tips For Pilots of Light Aircraft - Pre-Flight Checks
In this video I read a section of the CAA's Safety Sense Leaflet Number 3 - Winter Flying.
The leaflet has been reproduced here in video format with the kind permission of the CAA.
To download a copy of this (or any other in the series) to print off or store on your device please visit www.caa.co.uk/safetysense
INTRODUCTION.
The purpose of this video is to advise pilots/operators of aeroplanes, helicopters and microlights of some of the problems they may encounter while flying in winter.
PRE-FLIGHT.
a) There may be a greater risk of water condensation in aircraft fuel tanks in winter. Drain fluid from all water drains (there can be as many as 13 on some single-engined aircraft). Drain it into a clear container so that you can see any water.
b) When refuelling, ensure the aircraft is properly earthed. The very low humidity on a crisp, cold day can be conducive to a build-up of static electricity.
c) After flying high such that integral wing tank fuel has been ‘cold soaked’, and the ambient air is humid and cool, frost will form. If it is raining, almost invisible clear ice may form.
d) Tests have shown that frost, ice or snow with the thickness and surface roughness of medium or coarse sandpaper reduces lift by as much as 30% and increases drag by 40%. Even a small area can significantly affect the airflow, particularly on a laminar flow wing.
e) Ensure that the entire aircraft is properly de-iced and check visually that all snow, ice and even frost, which can produce a severe loss of lift, is cleared. This includes difficult to see ‘T’ tails. If water has collected in a spinner or control surface and then frozen, this produces serious out-of-balance forces. There is no such thing as a little ice.
f) The most effective equipment for testing for the presence of frost and ice is your eyes and your hands.
g) The best way to remove snow is by using a broom or brush. Frozen snow, ice and frost can be removed by using approved de-icing fluid in a pressure sprayer similar to a garden sprayer. An alternative is to melt the ice with hot water and then leather the aircraft dry to prevent re-freezing. Make sure that control surface hinges, vents etc. are not contaminated. A scraper might damage aircraft skins and transparencies.
h) Do not rely on snow blowing off during the take-off run. The ‘clean aircraft concept’ i
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxFDS4nb6Zg