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Sep 14, 2021 - Preparing your helicopter for the drops in temperatures | Reliable helicopter parts supplier in BC

Fall and winter seasons can be some of the best times to fly your helicopter around. You can deliver a fun, awesome flying experience for people looking to take to the skies. With colder temperatures, however, you have to take more comprehensive measures to ensure your helicopter stays in the air and less on the ground getting fixed. As a trusted helicopter parts supplier in BC, our team at Rotorlink has years of knowledge and expertise in dealing with helicopter parts sales. We’ll help you find ways to manage your helicopter leading into the colder seasons. 

We’ll detail how cold weather affects helicopter parts and systems, why you should conduct inspections on your helicopter when it gets cold, and how you can maintain its performance. We’ll also provide convincing reasons why rotorlink should be your main provider of helicopter parts. 

 

How Does Cold Weather Affect Helicopter Systems?

The biggest risk for helicopters during colder weather is frozen precipitation and icing. Ice can gather on your helicopter’s propellers and should always be avoided when taking flight. In addition to cold weather exposure, ice can also gather from flying to high altitudes, leading to the stoppage of the helicopter midair. When the ice forms on the propeller or rotor wings, the helicopter loses the ability to provide lift and can no longer maintain safe flight levels. 

Helicopters aren’t typically equipped with anti-icing equipment that would make them ideal to fly in colder weather. Moreover, icier precipitation isn’t visible all the time and makes it more dangerous to predict and fly in the air. If colder weather is threatening flights with freezing rain or if the frigidity has formed ice everywhere, helicopter pilots must be extremely cautious when conducting flights in these conditions. 

Snow can also be a considerable factor in helicopter flights. While it’s generally safe to fly in light snow conditions, heavy snow can cause serious complications and issues when trying to fly and can build up quickly. It’s always important to clear off snow oils that’s been sitting on your helicopter pad before starting the aircraft. They should also be cleared from intakes prior to strutting up the engine. 

If possible, you should always keep your helicopter hangar in a large space during the winter months. Gas and proper engine preheating methods should also be considered an important routine prior to flying out. 

 

Why It Is Important to Conduct Frequent Inspections of Your Helicopter

By conducting frequent inspections of your helicopter or aircraft, you can be more prepared to deal with potential mishaps or disasters, should they occur. Having a plan and pre-flight checklist is better than trying to figure things out on the fly. Additionally, it also provides you more peace of mind knowing you have some assurance midair. If all else fails, have an emergency plan in place if something goes wrong. 

Especially during winter and fall, conducting a thorough pre-flight checklist is crucial. You should evaluate everything from making sure propellers are clear of ice and snow and you can properly see in the front. De-icing equipment should also be checked to avoid having to deal with hard ice, cuts, or cracks. 

Lastly, fuel tank vents should be a big part of your inspection before take-off. If a vent is clogged by ice or snow, it can cause the engine to stop and the tank to collapse, leading to other extensive and expensive damages. By making sure the fuel tank is clean, you won’t have to deal with pending disasters midair. 

 

How to Keep Your Helicopter Going During the Cold

How you can keep your helicopter active during the cold weather is by warming it up before taking flight. If you don't have access to a hangar, this is especially important. Your helicopter may also be susceptible to fire hazards, so make sure you pay attention to your aircraft and have an extinguisher on hand just in case. 

 

Why Rotorlink Should Be Your Main Source of Helicopter Parts

Our team at Rotorlink has been supplying valuable helicopter parts to our partners for many years. We hope we have helped you understand how to maintain your helicopter or aircraft during colder weather. You’re now better equipped to handle such situations and make sure you and your passengers are safe. 

To learn more about what we do and the services we offer, please call us now at (604)-628-8188 or contact us HERE.