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Old 2nd February 2009 | 14:35
  #22 (permalink)  
RatherBeFlying
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Joined: Sep 2001
: CPL
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From: Toronto
Temperature of air, snow and airframe

All come into the situation:
  • All >0C -- no problem
  • All < 0C -- no problem
  • Airframe > 0C ; Air < 0C -- Snow can stick to airframe; as previously noted easy to happen during taxi after leaving warm hangar
  • Air & airframe > 0C -- snow and ice should melt off
  • Air & airframe < 0C; snow >0C -- nasty
As previously noted snow showers limit forward visibility, but often there is quite good visibility down and you can use terrain for orientation. Snow showers tend to run in bands downwind; so, a crosswind course and picking thin spots will minimise time in snow showers. I really want to be able to see the ground on the other side of the band before deciding to go through. You do want to know your terrain and remember that uniform terrain without features can put you into whiteout which is a whole other topic.
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