Safety Spotlight
Winter Weather
Cold temperatures, low clouds, and frozen precipitation present unique challenges during the winter season, but don't let this discourage you. Get up to speed quickly with award-winning courses on cold weather flying to enjoy the winter season. Don't wait for the snowflakes to come down: Get prepared now and test your skills with several ASF winter safety quizzes.
Resources
Weather Wise: Precipitation & Icing Online Course
Too many pilots underestimate the dangers of precipitation and icing—and an alarming number add to the accident statistics as a result. Take this course to learn how to recognize the hazards of precipitation and ice, develop a strategy for avoidance, and react appropriately if you encounter unexpected conditions (approx. 45 minutes). Take the Course >>>
Weather Wise: Ceiling and Visibility Online Course
Low ceilings and restricted visibilities are aviation's deadliest killers. With a little knowledge, you can minimize the risk these conditions pose (approx. 45-60 minutes).
Take the course >>>
Weather Wise: Air Masses & Fronts Online Course
Do you understand the “why” behind the weather? Find out about the large-scale forces that drive the weather, and learn how to put that knowledge to work before your next flight (approx. 45-60 minutes). Take the course >>>
SkySpotter: Pireps Made Easy Online Course
Is there rising terrain after departure? You better know local departure procedures and your aircraft performance numbers when taking off in the mountains at night (approx. 5 minutes). Take the course >>>
Real Pilot Story: Icing Encounter
The Cessna 172 pilot learned some valuable—and nearly fatal—lessons when he encountered an icy winter storm over the mountains near Bedford, Pennsylvania (approx. 12 minutes). Hear the pilot tell the story >>>
Weather Wise: Practical Tips and Tactical Tricks Safety Advisor
Weather is the most critical and complex variable that affects your flying. But you don't have to be a meteorologist to understand what makes weather, and use that understanding to help make sound flight decisions. This is what being weather wise is all about ... the ability to integrate official reports and forecasts with what you can see outside to cope with changing flight conditions in the real world. Wouldn't you like to be WeatherWise? (PDF file—358KB) Download it now >>>
ASOS Safety Advisor
Automated weather reporting systems are being installed at airports across the country. They provide more weather data than ever before but also require pilots to interpret the information they receive. This Safety Advisor describes these systems, their strengths and weaknesses and even offers weather gathering and interpretation information. Guidelines for understanding their performance are also provided. (PDF file—219KB) Download it now >>>
Cold Facts: Wing Contamination Safety Brief
During the last 10 years, there have been over 30 accidents on takeoff as a result of wing contamination by snow, frost, and ice. A few simple steps during preflight could have easily prevented these accidents. Download it now >>>
Cold Facts: Braking Action Reports Safety Brief
Have you ever tuned in the ATIS at your favorite airport only to hear "...braking action fair" and wondered exactly what it meant? These reports highlight one of the hazards of winter flying—taxiways and runways covered in snow, ice and slush. These conditions should not always deter pilots from taking to the air in winter. (PDF file — 293KB) Download it now >>>
ASF Safety Quizzes
All pilots learn to decode METARs (aviation routine weather reports) early in their training, but simply being able to translate the codes isn't enough: It's important to understand what all the information means—and how to incorporate it into your preflight planning and decision making. This ASF Safety Quiz will test your knowledge.
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
On November 5, 2008, the format for terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs) changed to accomodate expanded 30-hour forecasts, which are issued for 32 large U.S. airports. Test your TAF savvy with this ASF Safety Quiz.
Related Safety Spotlight
Safety Spotlight: Aircraft Icing
A layer of ice no thicker or rougher than a piece of coarse sandpaper can reduce lift by 30 percent and increase drag up to 40 percent. Even aircraft equipped for flight into icing conditions are significantly affected by ice accumulation on unprotected areas such as antennas, flap hinges, wing struts, cowlings, etc. Check out these free resources >>>
Updated December 23, 2009
