Winter and Cold-Weather Procedures

It's that time of year again — the winter season is right around the corner, and it has been a while since we reviewed winter and cold-weather procedures. It's time to get out the AFM and Operations Manuals and review procedures for the aircraft we fly. International flying adds challenges to be considered.

Be familiar with the types of de-ice and anti-ice fluids acceptable for your aircraft. When planning your trip, ensure that your destination has acceptable fluids and that the processes used are compatible with your aircraft. Work with your handler to arrange de-icing charges in a timely manner, and be aware of how de-icing procedures may affect A-CDM timings.

As another reminder, review when and how to calculate cold-temperature altitude corrections.

Finally, check NOTAMs and other official documents for requirements. For example, Frankfurt Main (EDDF) restricts deactivating broadband/microwave functions of SATCOM systems. Take the time to be prepared for safe winter operations.