Firstly, allow me to apologise, unreservedly for that title.
You’ve no right to be subjected to puns like that and I promise I will try to do better in future (although I also reserve the right to change my mind of course…)
For many children the sight of the white stuff is a reason for unmitigated joy. Grab the sledge, build a snowman, engage in a snowball fight with that kid that you secretly detest, so you throw the snowball just a little bit harder, or maybe that was just me?
But for pilots…
Whether you are a qualified pilot, instructor or student, the arrival of falling temperatures combined with moist air is greeted universally with a groan. For a private pilot it can mean postponing that first flight of the year. Perhaps the one where you’d promised to take someone flying for a Christmas surprise. Or maybe you were just hoping the snow would stay on the high ground so you could engage your passenger with stunning views of the Lake District like the one in the photograph below, courtesy of Paul Kiddell.
Happily, some airfields are within reach of these views and remain useable throughout the year, usually those with paved/hard runways. Others, in low lying areas with grass runways are less fortunate, and have to wait it out. At least in the UK these periods of snowy weather are usually quite short and we can all return to the skies fairly soon…usually.
As an instructor it can mean time not flying, which also equates to not earning for many for whom this is a full time job. It does, however, give a window for us to lend a hand with the theoretical side of flying – or more plainly, ground school.
Now, the student perspective.
Its frustrating and irritating when you can’t fly. You’re full of enthusiasm and excitement. You’ve likely planned your week around ensuring you can be available for your booked lesson and of course, you’ll have spent hours wearing down the screen on your smartphone by downloading and checking ever more obscure weather apps, until you find the one that gives you the forecast you need.
Weather Puppy anyone?
I remember all this from when I was learning to fly (not the Weather Puppy bit). My approach was to take my enthusiasm and channel it into ground school or if my instructor had other plans, I just did it at home. The winter months present an opportunity to really hone your knowledge of how the weather works, why that white stuff has coated the airfield, why we always get a succession of storms rolling in off the Atlantic Ocean at the back end of the year and of course all the other subjects too, not just meteorology, which if you hadn’t guessed already, is my favourite.
Use this time to get your head in the books, YouTube, quiz apps or however you prefer to learn and then get those theory exams boxed off. You’ll be in a better position when the flyable conditions are here, you’ll be better informed about the environment in which you are operating and you’ll be one step closer to qualifying for your license.
Finally, a huge thank you to Paul Kiddell for providing all of the wonderful winter flying photographs I’ve used in this blog (including the featured one at the top of the post that I can’t seem to caption…) Paul takes some fantastic photographs, as you can see by these examples, and much of his work is regularly featured in Microlight Flying magazine.
Here’s one more of his to finish…
Dan Roach Flying Author 