{"id":19965,"date":"2019-12-18T15:44:41","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T19:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/?p=19965"},"modified":"2019-12-18T15:44:42","modified_gmt":"2019-12-18T19:44:42","slug":"keep-your-flying-skills-sharp-in-the-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/keep-your-flying-skills-sharp-in-the-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Grounded for the Winter? 5 Ways to Keep Your Flying Skills Sharp"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Winter weather isn\u2019t easy on pilots. Between the freezing temperatures, icy runways, and sharp winds, it\u2019s no wonder many of us who love to fly prefer to stay grounded during the cold weather months. If you\u2019re tucking your airplane away for a long winter\u2019s rest, you might be wondering how to keep your flying skills sharp while you wait for better weather.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, staying grounded for the winter doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t participate in flying-related activities. In fact, winter is a prime time to practice your existing skills and learn new ones from the safety of the ground.<\/p>\n

Here are some great ways to keep your flying skills sharp this winter: <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

#1: Study for a new certificate or rating<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve always wanted to try mountain flying or get your seaplane rating. If winter weather prevents you from flying for a few weeks, use the time to study on your own for an additional certificate or rating. This way, you\u2019ll have a headstart on the content when you\u2019re ready to officially start a course or program.<\/p>\n

#2: Take online courses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several online and mobile courses exist to help pilots maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight. Student pilots and pilots holding a U.S. pilot certificate can take free courses for WINGS credit on FAASafety.gov<\/a>, and AOPA members can access a variety of online courses through the Air Safety Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

#3: \u201cFly\u201d an aviation training device<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many high-tech simulator systems that provide realistic, scenario-based training for any experience level. Whether it\u2019s a full-motion sim at a flight school or a desktop simulator at home, it\u2019s easier than ever to brush up on existing skills and learn new techniques. Logging time on a sim will also allow you to practice abnormal or emergency procedures that can\u2019t be managed safely in a real airplane.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

#4: Practice chair flying <\/strong><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have access to a simulator, there\u2019s nothing wrong with good old fashioned chair flying. Find a quiet spot and set up a cockpit poster or pull up an image on your tablet or computer. Then, go over every step of your flight from beginning to end, as if you were actually flying. Run through your checklists and safety procedures, and practice making radio calls. You\u2019ll build muscle memory and avoid feeling rusty when you\u2019re finally back behind the controls.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

#5: Catch up on your reading list<\/strong><\/p>\n

The freezing weather offers opportunities to stay indoors and indulge in flying-related reading material for education or entertainment. Flip through the Instrument Procedures Handbook <\/em>or pick up a non-fiction page-turner like David McCullough\u2019s The Wright Brothers <\/em>or Fly Girls<\/em> by Keith O\u2019Brien to spark your flying inspiration.<\/p>\n

How do you keep your flying skills sharp on days you can\u2019t fly? Let us know on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winter weather isn\u2019t easy on pilots. Between the freezing temperatures, icy runways, and sharp winds, it\u2019s no wonder many of us who love to fly prefer to stay grounded during the cold weather months. If you\u2019re tucking your airplane away for a long winter\u2019s rest, you might be wondering how to keep your flying skills […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":726,"featured_media":16195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[142,324,325,137,256,143,93,349,444,198,445,446],"class_list":["post-19965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-flying","tag-flying-skill","tag-flying-skills","tag-pilot","tag-pilot-proficiency","tag-pilot-safety","tag-pilots","tag-safety-tips","tag-winter","tag-winter-flying","tag-winter-flying-safety-tips","tag-winter-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGrounded for the Winter? 5 Ways to Keep Your Flying Skills Sharp - Hartzell Propeller<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For pilots grounded for the cold weather season, brush up on flying skills and stay proficient all winter long with these tips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hartzellprop.com\/keep-your-flying-skills-sharp-in-the-winter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Grounded for the Winter? 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