Sun, Sep 20, 2020
Pilots Must Conduct A Pre-Flight, Comprehensive Review Of Weather, Including An Assessment Of Icing Potential
The NTSB issued Safety Alert SA-082 this week, highlighting the importance of pilots assessing, understanding and preparing for the risk of wet snow and icing conditions before flight.
The “Flight in Snow” safety alert provides guidance to pilots, dispatchers and operators regarding flight during wet snow and icing conditions. Wet snow contains liquid particles on the snowflakes or liquid particles falling amongst the snowflakes compared to dry snow in which there is no liquid. The liquid in wet snow has the potential to compromise flight safety through structural, engine and windshield ice accumulation.
“As we go into the fall season with cooling temperatures, pilots need to remain vigilant for snow and icing conditions,” said Dana Schulze, Director of the NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety. “Pilots must conduct a pre-flight, comprehensive review of weather, including an assessment of the potential for icing, particularly when snow is part of the forecast.”
In this photo taken Jan. 16, 2018 is an MD Helicopter Inc 369HM that crashed on January 15, 2018 in Perrysburg, OH.
Safety Alert SA-082 emphasizes the following guidance to pilots, dispatchers and operators for flight in snow, including:
- Consider the icing threat and follow icing mitigation or avoidance procedures,
- Be honest with yourself about your skill limitations. Plan ahead with cancellation or diversion alternatives.
- Ensure risk assessments for flight into snow conditions include a review of the potential for icing that can accompany snow,
- Ensure risk assessments contain more than just a review of ceiling and visibility conditions, and
- Consider including information about the various snow types in training programs.
More News
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Altitude Readout An aircraft’s altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100-foot increments on a radar scope having readout cap>[...]
Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
"The need for innovation at speed and scale is greater than ever. The X-62A VISTA is a crucial platform in our efforts to develop, test and integrate AI, as well as to establish AI>[...]