Every year, the onset of cold weather prompts a seasonal shift among business aviation flight planners, as they work to accommodate low temperatures. With that in mind, three experienced industry professionals offered insights and ideas aimed at improving safety and keeping operations going when temperatures plummet.
Audrey Lambdin, director of security and operations administration for Jet Logistics, Inc.; Abbie Fox, aviation dispatcher for Arthur M. Blank Family Offices and Michell Papontos, director of dispatch for Wheels Up shared a few of their best tips on winter operations.
Review Regulations and Policies
“We do recurrent training for all of our crews, planners and dispatchers to familiarize everyone with what the season brings,” said Papontos. “Things like, how to run the advisory numbers from the [aircraft flight manual], to what processes the crews use to determine if the airplane is ‘clean’ for departure, how to do a pre-flight contamination check, how slush can impact taxi performance and more.
“We also cover the four different types of deicing fluids,” Papontos added. “What are their limitations regarding aircraft types and holdover times under different conditions? Pilots who aren’t familiar with winter operations mistakenly think they’re all the same.”
Double-Check FBO Services
Experts also stress the importance of calling the arrival FBO directly to ensure they have the required services on-site. When it comes to availability of heated hangars or deicing services, things change daily.
“We double-check the services available, which sometimes means we will have to change the airport we use. That happens more often than you think,” said Lambdin. “We recently went to Alaska and switched airports because the original destination didn’t have deicing available, just in case we needed it. We like to err on the side of caution.”
Consider Using Heated Hangars
However, in some cold-weather scenarios, the availability of deicing alone might not be the deciding factor.
“Today’s aircraft systems seem to be a little bit more susceptible to cold-soaking than the older models,” Papontos said. “We really prefer to put the aircraft in a heated hangar whenever possible. It’s cheaper than deicing and doesn’t require the crew to take all of the freezables off of the aircraft when it’s parked outside.
“Even if we can’t park it inside overnight, we ask the FBO if they can at least put it in the heated hanger for a few hours before departure,” Papontos added. “That way, the systems are warmer, and the cabin is more comfortable for our passengers.”
Passenger Safety on the Ground
Speaking of passenger needs, weather conditions frequently impact not just comfort, but also passenger safety.
“It’s very important to communicate with your passengers and set their expectations up front regarding the weather and any backup plans in the event of a diversion,” said Fox.
“It’s also imperative that the scheduler/dispatcher speak directly with the FBO to confirm that all the services will be ready for our arrival so that our passengers can safely travel to their destinations,” Fox added. “Our passengers need to know that even if we can land, the roads leading out may be closed or impacted by limited visibility. Passenger safety is always our No. 1 goal.”
Delay Refueling
Another tip is to hold off refueling until immediately before departure, especially during extremely cold conditions.
“If you fuel the airplane out on a cold ramp and then park it in a heated hangar, the fuel will expand, and you can have overflows, which spill on the hanger floor,” Papontos said. “In very cold conditions, we try to hold off on fueling until the first flight of the day if we can.
Ensure Workers Have Proper Gear
Whether employees are pre-flighting or loading luggage, working in very low temperatures can be extremely uncomfortable. That’s why it’s imperative for operators to ensure that pilots have proper clothing.
“We supply our crews with gloves and multi-layer winter coats,” said Lambdin. “We also supply reflective vests for them to wear on the ramp. While they’re required at many airports outside of the U.S., they’re a great safety tool anytime you’re on the ramp when it’s dark.”
Increase Prep Time
Another tip: Consider giving crew members more time to prepare aircraft, both before and after flights.
“We increase our standard crew show times by 30 minutes before departure and at the back end to take care of whatever special needs the situation calls for,” Papontos said. “We also look closely at the impacts of duty and rest policies for our crews. Flying in icing conditions in the dark is certainly more fatiguing than normal operations.
“When it comes to winter operations, a lot of it comes down to just thinking about all the details you’ll face,” said Papontos. “If you have to make some concessions in the name of safety, no one will ever question those decisions.”