Winter Flying

Up here in Alaska we never fly without some sort of warming system for both
the aircraft and the pilot.

I carry an electric or gas heater depending on where I'm going and how long
I'll be there. Of course we always use Engine cowl blankets and wing covers.

For my personal comfort, I always try to take my girlfriend. She's a little
more expensive than a heater but a whole lot more fun.

PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

wrote in message
ups.com...
Since we are well into winter and snow and ice, how are you coping with
it? What are you doing to pick out XC checkpoints now that the ground
is covered with snow and everything looks different? How are you going
to handle taxiing on slick or ice covered taxiways and runways? Have
you ever considered the humps left by snowplows, that freeze and lurk
to get your prop tips or wrinkle nose gears? Blown snow that can snag
your wing tips as you taxi down the "tunnel" to the runway..... What
are you doing to pre-heat your engine and cabin (and instruments)?
Are you equipped and prepared for an emergency landing when it may take
hours/days for help to get to you even if they know where you are? Do
you know how to prepare for a winter XC in terms of facilities where
you land? Do they have shelter or cover for your aircraft or heat and
snow removal equipment?
Can you determine how deep the new snow is on a runway and can you make
a soft field landing without disappearing in several feet of snow....if
you are wrong?
How about flying in light snow showers that suddenly get heavy and you
end up IFR and then hurting for alternate air when the engine air
filter gets clogged by snow. Are you prepared for a slippery runway
with fresh snow? No matter what you do, the airplane just reacts to
gravity and laws of physics while you sit and haplessly flop the
controls around and slide/slip off the runway/taxiway.
Yahoooooo....it's winter time and snow is on the ground. Lets go play
in the snow!!!
Ol Shy & Bashful - Hero CFII ( with the big stirring stick and having
fun

"PJ Hunt" wrote in message
...
Up here in Alaska we never fly without some sort of warming system for
both
the aircraft and the pilot.

I carry an electric or gas heater depending on where I'm going and how
long
I'll be there. Of course we always use Engine cowl blankets and wing
covers.

For my personal comfort, I always try to take my girlfriend. She's a
little
more expensive than a heater but a whole lot more fun.

PJ

What area of Alaska are you in? My wife has always wanted to visit Alaska.

It sure looks beautiful in all of the TV shows.
--
Jim in NC

Dave
When I was flying Stearmans years back, I put on as many clothes as I
could wear and still climb into the airplane! Was teaching crop dusting
in them in both Colorado and central California. Wasn't much different
when doing frost control in helicopters and no cabin heat. I dressed in
my warmest stuff and that was from my days flying in Canada!
Ol Shy & Bashful

Our FBO hands us a sheet of Winter flying rules and recommendations
that they require us to read and sign, if we want to rent from them.

The sheet suggests the pilot bring a survival bag with warm clothes,
hiking boots, extra water and food etc etc.

The suggestions make sense for those who are going on a cross country
as there are lots of places that are extremely rugged here in Northern
New England. All of my winter flying so far has been currency flying
during which I basically stay in the pattern, so I haven't bothered
bringing any survival gear.

Corky Scott

Hi Jim,

Typically I get sent all over the state on various contracts.

Currently I'm in Dutch Harbor and have been here since late Sept.

PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"PJ Hunt" wrote in message
...
Up here in Alaska we never fly without some sort of warming system for
both
the aircraft and the pilot.

I carry an electric or gas heater depending on where I'm going and how
long
I'll be there. Of course we always use Engine cowl blankets and wing
covers.

For my personal comfort, I always try to take my girlfriend. She's a
little
more expensive than a heater but a whole lot more fun.

PJ

What area of Alaska are you in? My wife has always wanted to visit
Alaska.

It sure looks beautiful in all of the TV shows.
--
Jim in NC

"PJ Hunt" wrote in message
...
Hi Jim,

Typically I get sent all over the state on various contracts.

Currently I'm in Dutch Harbor and have been here since late Sept.

PJ

Mighty dark up there, right about now, isn't it? :-)
--
Jim in NC

Actually it's not too bad. Out on Aleutian chain we're so far west that we
have longer days than in Anchorage.

Right now it starts getting dark about 6:30. In Anchorage it's getting dark
around 4:30.

The good news? In just a few more days the days will begin getting longer
again and before you know it we'll have more day light than you know what to
do with.

PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"PJ Hunt" wrote in message
...
Hi Jim,

Typically I get sent all over the state on various contracts.

Currently I'm in Dutch Harbor and have been here since late Sept.

PJ

Mighty dark up there, right about now, isn't it? :-)
--
Jim in NC

Hmmmm...

...can't fault your logic on the personal comfort section...


Dave


On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 18:32:45 -0900, "PJ Hunt"
wrote:

Up here in Alaska we never fly without some sort of warming system for both
the aircraft and the pilot.

I carry an electric or gas heater depending on where I'm going and how long
I'll be there. Of course we always use Engine cowl blankets and wing covers.

For my personal comfort, I always try to take my girlfriend. She's a little
more expensive than a heater but a whole lot more fun.

PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

wrote in message
oups.com...
Since we are well into winter and snow and ice, how are you coping with
it? What are you doing to pick out XC checkpoints now that the ground
is covered with snow and everything looks different? How are you going
to handle taxiing on slick or ice covered taxiways and runways? Have
you ever considered the humps left by snowplows, that freeze and lurk
to get your prop tips or wrinkle nose gears? Blown snow that can snag
your wing tips as you taxi down the "tunnel" to the runway..... What
are you doing to pre-heat your engine and cabin (and instruments)?
Are you equipped and prepared for an emergency landing when it may take
hours/days for help to get to you even if they know where you are? Do
you know how to prepare for a winter XC in terms of facilities where
you land? Do they have shelter or cover for your aircraft or heat and
snow removal equipment?
Can you determine how deep the new snow is on a runway and can you make
a soft field landing without disappearing in several feet of snow....if
you are wrong?
How about flying in light snow showers that suddenly get heavy and you
end up IFR and then hurting for alternate air when the engine air
filter gets clogged by snow. Are you prepared for a slippery runway
with fresh snow? No matter what you do, the airplane just reacts to
gravity and laws of physics while you sit and haplessly flop the
controls around and slide/slip off the runway/taxiway.
Yahoooooo....it's winter time and snow is on the ground. Lets go play
in the snow!!!
Ol Shy & Bashful - Hero CFII ( with the big stirring stick and having
fun

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 18:04:48 -0900, "PJ Hunt"
wrote:

In Anchorage it's getting dark
around 4:30.

Well hell, that's what's happening down here in Vermont!

Corky Scott

Yep, everyone thinks it's dark 24 hours a day up here in the winter time.

I just keep letting most of em think that. It keeps the riff raff out.

PJ

============================================
Here's to the duck who swam a lake and never lost a feather,
May sometime another year, we all be back together.
JJW
============================================

"Corky Scott" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 18:04:48 -0900, "PJ Hunt"
wrote:

In Anchorage it's getting dark
around 4:30.

Well hell, that's what's happening down here in Vermont!

Corky Scott