Really cold weather operations
 

Some friends are currently on their way to Lapland on a Jet2 charter from Manchester. The current weather report is -32 Centigrade at Kittila Airport :ooh:

Was just wondering if weather this cold causes any extra issues when on the ground? Is there a minimum start temperature below which it's better to keep engines running for example?

The APU should be kept running , external airconditioning used ( warm ) or the a/c in heated hangar with water drained or water pipes , toilets etc will freeze up. Outflow valves may freeze. The engines will start unless the starter valve has frozen .

Just leave the packs on, that keeps everything toastie, need need to drain water or put in a hangar, plus the bleed air will prevent the start valves freezing up

I remember being restriced from ops into -80f as strut seals could rupture. You sound safe.

You need to watch this!

Ice Pilots NWT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An interesting question, especially considering how cold Europe is at the moment. Our limit figures on an Embraer 190 are: -40˚C Take off and APU start; -70˚C in flight at high levels and -54˚C at lower levels; -20˚C minimum battery temperature; -18˚C minimum hydraulic temperature.

PM