New CD & DVD-Based Training Available Now

Most instrument pilots will eventually encounter unexpected icing conditions, and preparation is the key to survival. Sporty’s is now offering a series of icing training programs in one package on one CD-ROM and one DVD. Both were produced with NASA’s help at its John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. Best of all, you can get the package for 10 bucks!

A Pilot’s Guide to In-Flight Icing is a CD-ROM that presents pilots with operational information and tools to avoid and detect ice and minimize exposure. The program discusses exit strategies during each phase of flight, the effects of ice on aircraft performance, control upsets (wing and tail stalls) and recovery procedures.

Using imagery captured on NASA Icing Research flights, animation, pilot testimonials, case studies and interactive demonstrations, this program also includes interactive exercises to assess the user’s operational understanding of key points. The CD-ROM is both Windows and Mac compatible.

The second disc is a NASA-produced DVD that includes four educational programs:

• Icing for General Aviation Pilots (55 minutes) uses special ice accretion imagery to help explain how ice can affect performance and eventually lead to wing and tail stalls. In-flight footage and interviews with NASA pilots explain recovery techniques that could save your life.
• Icing for Regional and Corporate Pilots (40 minutes) is helpful for all pilots. This program describes warning indications of ice accumulation and explains techniques for recovery from ice-induced upsets. It also covers ice "runback" and demonstrates why no aircraft can be designed for flight in continuous supercooled large droplet (SLD) conditions.
• Supercooled Large Droplet Icing (26 minutes) discusses the phenomenon of supercooled large droplet icing and how this hazard affects performance and handling. It shows visual cues to aid in early detection and escape.
• Tailplane Icing (25 minutes) examines the problem of tail icing in depth and presents a physical description of the problem along with warning signs and suggested recovery procedures. You also get to ride along with the crew of the NASA test plane during a tail icing experiment.

Sporty's has made NASA's Icing Training Programs available for purchase directly from their website. If you're looking for a great Christmas gift for you pilot friends, order the package by Friday, December 22, and Sporty's can still get it there in time.

FMI: www.sportys.com