MNDOT Photo by Dan McDowell
The rapidly lengthening shadows grow all around as the sun quickly seeks solace from the cold while sliding below the horizon. Its fading pale hues of pink and orange quickly give way to the ever-increasing bands of dark blue.
The piercing cold wind seems to go through everything whether made of metal, wood, or flesh. Nothing can stop it. The wind feels as if it is swirling, coming from every direction at once. It’s as though nothing can escape the numbing cold grasp of winter.
Minnesota and Wisconsin have inordinately long winters, or so it often seems. But most inhabitants of this region either love it or fly south to avoid the cold season. Those that stay seem to revel in the crystal clear, yet frigid days when breathing outside air is almost painful! They look forward to being outside and enjoying the snow, ice and yes, the cold. They see some of the beauty that abounds in winter, but too many miss its exquisite beauty that can only be seen from the vantage point of flight.
Flying in winter does require knowledge and use of some different skill sets, like taxiing on ice or snow packed taxiways and runways, or preheating the aircraft, or deicing the plane before flight, for instance. However, the few extra elements added to the preparation for a winter flight are minimal compared to the joy and pleasure that flight will bring to you. But is that all one must do to be prepared?
There is no excuse for failing to properly prepare your aircraft and yourself for flight at any time, and tailoring those preparations to meet the environmental conditions you may, or will face. You have a complete checklist for you aircraft, but few people actually make and use a personal checklist. If you think about where you plan to fly, the season, and the expected weather conditions you will or could encounter, it should bring to mind a number of items you should plan to take with you “just-in-case” or for that situation or unusual, unpredictable incident.
Think about this.
What if your aircraft heater fails 75 miles from your intended destination?
What if you lose electrical power to your panel?
What if your engine quits and you have to make an emergency landing miles from the nearest airport or town?
What would you need to have with you to survive?
Allowing the assumption that you landed the aircraft safely and no one was injured (besides the mental trauma of the emergency itself), you are now faced with a significant survival situation. Assume also that just before landing you spotted a farm house about one mile from your emergency landing location.
Do you have adequate footgear to protect you from cold?
Are your gloves dry and will they protect you properly for the one mile trek to the farm house?
Do you have a compass so you can take a bearing on that house?
Bear in mind that walking can become extremely hazardous due to icy conditions, snowfall accumulation, low visibility, or extreme cold.
It is important to note here that the National Weather Service says, “Individuals suffer cold injuries, such as frostbite or hypothermia, from being outside too long and by not being well protected from wind and cold.”
If you have to walk through a wooded area, is it level?
What if you step into a stream or pond that was covered with snow and you couldn’t see it?
Do you have a quality flashlight with fresh batteries?
Do you have water, food, any type of temporary shelter?
Are you carrying waterproof matches?
Did you bring a first aid kit?
Do you have a portable radio or fully charged phone?
How will you call for help, and how long can you wait for help before your situation becomes critical?
This article is not meant to tell you what to do, but rather to provoke within you serious thoughts about your personal preparations for winter flying (and driving too). Remember, the longest mile you may ever walk will be that one in the dead of winter when you have an emergency you are not prepared to handle.
There are a number of excellent books available today about survival preparations and techniques. Get several and read them thoroughly. Develop a personal checklist. Build and take with you a seasonally adjusted and inspected survival pack. You never know when it might make the difference in a large inconvenience and a gross nightmare. Then if you are caught in the grasp of winter, you’ll be prepared to survive and continue to enjoy the beauty winter has to offer!
