Online Course Explains Dangers Of Freezing Temps, Precip

The weather outside is already frightful in some areas of the United States... which makes now the perfect time for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation to launch its latest online course, dealing with the effects colder weather can have on your flying plans.

Icing and precipitation are two of the greatest weather-related dangers pilots face. And because pilots apparently quickly forget that basic flight training lesson, the ASF has just launched its newest online course, 'Weather Wise: Precipitation and Icing.'

"An alarming number of pilots become accident statistics because too many of them underestimate the dangers of precipitation and icing," said Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. "This course will remind them how to recognize the hazards of precipitation and ice, develop a strategy for avoidance, and react appropriately if and when they encounter unexpected conditions."

'Precipitation and Icing' is the fourth in the Air Safety Foundation's ongoing series of online courses intended to help pilots better understand the environment they fly in. Development of the Weather Wise series is partially funded by NOAA's National Weather Service, Mark Jon Bluth and the Slick Family Foundation.

The course is divided into seven sections, including one on precipitation -- which very graphically demonstrates how quickly a simple rain shower can decrease visibility to near zero. Another section deals exclusively with icing, including the too-often-overlooked induction icing which can rob an engine of the oxygen it needs to operate.

The purpose of the course is to make clear that dealing with icing and precipitation begins long before a pilot leaves the ground and continues throughout the flight until safely on the ground once more.

As with most AOPA Air Safety Foundation courses, 'Weather Wise, Precipitation and Icing' is free and available to all pilots -- not just AOPA members -- and qualifies for the FAA Wings proficiency program upon successful completion of the quiz at the end.

FMI: www.aopa.org/asf