Preparing Your Light Aircraft for Winter Storage

Read below to learn more about aircraft storage, maintenance, and some important tips on how to prepare your light aircraft for winter storage.

Winter is right around the corner and what better way to get ahead of your aircraft maintenance than right now?

If you are planning to store your aircraft for its long winter hibernation, then this guide is just for you. Storing aircraft through the winter can not only help you slow down the depreciation of the aircraft, but it can also help you freeze (pun intended) the value of the plane.

The good news is that there are several best practices that anyone can follow to store their aircraft during the chilly months. What’s even better is that if you are already a member of a comprehensive aero club, like Sherburn Aero Club, then you can conveniently and very easily store your aircraft and forget about it – until you are ready to take the bird to the sky again.

Read below to learn more about aircraft storage, maintenance, and some important tips on how to prepare your light aircraft for winter storage.

What are Light Aircraft?

Let’s get the basics out of the way.

Light aircraft is any aircraft that has a lower Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) which is about 5,670 kgs or less. These aircraft can be categorised into two types:

• Flex-wing light aircraft.
• Fixed-wing light aircraft.

Flex-wing aircraft are the most basic and common form of light aircraft. They have a rigid wing structure with a fabric wrapped around it, thus allowing the wings to “flex” in the air. These aircraft are lighter than traditional aircraft, have a less powerful engine, and usually sport an open cockpit design which adds to their thrilling flying experience.

Fixed-wing aircraft, on the other hand, are the precursor to larger aircraft that you will commonly see at airports. These aircraft are designed after larger aircraft and may share a lot of similarities to passenger planes. However, they are significantly lighter, more compact, and are suited for flight training and cross-country trips for private pilots.

Both aircraft have various storage and maintenance needs, but due to their similarities, they often share more or less the same storage best practices.

Why You Should Prepare for Winter Storage

Aircraft are very resilient machines, however, just like everything else, they are susceptible to extreme temperatures. Winter usually signals a drastic change in moisture levels where multiple things can go wrong.

For example, icing is a very common problem where ice can accumulate on cold surfaces on the plane. When this happens, it can severely damage the surfaces of the aircraft due to the added moisture.

Furthermore, icing can also affect the inner mechanics of the engine. Keep in mind that engines need lubrication, and with the wrong grade of engine oil, cold temperatures can cause an inefficient flow of engine oil which can result in significant wear and tear of mechanical parts.

Winter storage is also highly recommended because you will likely not be using your aircraft during the harsh winter months.

If you are a private pilot, then you will only be allowed to operate the aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. These conditions highlight the suitable weather conditions for flying light aircraft.

Chances are, the harsher months will make visibility a challenge, so it is best that you keep your aircraft in tight storage rather than leave it outside to the mercy of the weather.

Top Tips for Light Aircraft Winter Storage

Here are some top tips for storing your aircraft through the winter season:

Change the oil to a lower temperature grade.

The oil grade defines the viscosity of the oil that circulates within the engine. You might have seen grades like 15W-50, 20W-50, and 25W-60. The “W” here stands for winter and shows a number that represents the flow of oil in cold winter conditions. The other number without any lettering represents the flow of oil at normal temperatures.

So, if you plan to store the aircraft throughout the winter season and occasionally turn on the engine for maintenance tasks, then we recommend switching to a lower-temperature grade oil.

If you use the wrong temperature grade, then the oil will not effectively circulate since it will be too viscous to spread to the engine parts in time - and this would cause a lot of damage to the engine due to a lack of lubrication.

Lubricate moving parts.

Just like changing the oil for better engine health, lubricating moving parts ahead of the winter season is also mandatory!

As mentioned above, the winter season results in moisture due to icing. When this happens, susceptible aircraft parts like surfaces, joints, or moving parts can gather rust. For the best results, we recommend that you lubricate the surface to avoid this issue.

Lubrication doesn’t just ensure that the parts move easily, it also adds a layer of protection that seals the surface and protects it from moisture.

Check and replace batteries if necessary.

Cold temperatures can affect battery health. Batteries perform best at normal temperatures, so when you expose them to cold temperatures for a prolonged period, then the battery will likely deteriorate or “die”’.

This could result in either a loss of power to the electronics of the aircraft or a loss of power to the ignition system of the plane.

Ensure proper hangarage.

The best way to store aircraft is in a temperature-controlled hanger that keeps the aircraft secure from the environment. If you don’t have access to temperature-controlled hangers, then covering the aircraft over with a canopy can work great too.

Comprehensive aeroclubs, like Sherburn Aero Club, offer bespoke hangarage services that can help pilots store their aircraft without worry.

This means that instead of having to worry about storing the aircraft through the harsh winter months, you can simply count on the team of experts at the hangers to store your aircraft for you. This way, you can easily maintain its value over time and be confident that your aircraft will be ready for you whenever you need it.

Preparing Light Aircraft for Winter Storage – Benefits of Maintenance

Maintenance is what makes aircraft fly efficiently and safely. Just like everything else in life, aircraft too require some attention. If you miss out on the maintenance of the aircraft, then with time, the aircraft will begin to show subtle signs of damage.

Given enough time, the aircraft will likely face catastrophic failure!

The good news is that there are several key fail-safes placed by the Civil Aviation Authority to keep things like this from happening. According to the CAA, all aircraft must have a valid maintenance schedule and must follow that schedule without fail.

This means that all aircraft are subject to scrutiny by trained professional mechanics who check every nook and cranny of the aircraft before labelling it as airworthy.

However, these checks and balances usually only apply when you want to actively use the aircraft. If you don’t plan to use the aircraft for a while, then you can simply store it and catch up on the maintenance before you plan to fly it.

In any case, the aircraft will have to always pass several safety checks before it is even allowed on the runway.

So, should you just leave the aircraft untouched and not bother with it until later when you plan to actually fly it? Not quite.

As mentioned above, aircraft are prone to depreciation, so the longer you store them improperly the more likely you are to rack up the maintenance bill on your aircraft. This is why every responsible pilot takes care of their aircraft – just like they would for their favourite car.

Storage best practices can have several benefits, here are some of the top reasons why you should prepare your light aircraft for winter storage:

Maintain airworthiness.

Airworthiness is extremely important in aviation. If you plan to fly, then you must do so in an aircraft that passes all the inspections and is deemed airworthy by professional technicians.

Flying is often said to be the safest form of travel – we didn’t get here by skimming on aircraft maintenance! The reason why aviation is cited to be so safe is because of strict regulations on both pilots and aircraft.

Pilots must make sure that their aircraft is airworthy at all times and is kept at optimal conditions to ensure its longevity and efficiency.

Maintaining airworthiness is necessary if you wish to legally operate an aircraft. It is also important to maintain the safety of the pilot, as well as other aircraft in the sky.   

Fly on Demand

Storing the aircraft for winter and properly maintaining it ensures that the aircraft can be flown at any time without any issues. This means that if you schedule a trip or an emergency flight, then you can easily fly in the plane without expecting delays.

Unforeseen delays can cause a lot of problems in aviation, so, if you wish to fly on demand, you must ensure that you properly store the aircraft so that it is ready for you when you need it the most.

Maximise aircraft value

Due to their considerable value, aircraft are a financial investment and an expensive asset. Just like you would keep your home, car, or any other asset, pilots must maintain their aircraft to ensure its long-term value and resale potential.

Storage Maintenance During the Winter Season

As mentioned above, it is best that you regularly keep your aircraft maintained, even when you store it for the long term during the winter months.

The type of maintenance required and when is dictated by the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), which is issued by the factory that makes the aircraft.

The Aircraft Maintenance Manual highlights the kind of maintenance required to deem the aircraft airworthy.

Storage maintenance

Aircraft in storage may require their fair share of maintenance, even if you don’t plan to fly them.

The Aircraft Maintenance Manual highlights several best practices that all pilots should follow to keep their stored aircraft in optimal condition. These practices can not only help increase the longevity of the aircraft, but they can also enable pilots to avoid potential delays caused by lack of maintenance!

Please keep in mind that aircraft are an asset and simply storing the aircraft for later doesn’t lock their value in time. These machines require constant attention and if you are a true aviation fanatic, this part is usually part of the fun!

Storage maintenance activities can highlight potential issues with time. The benefit here is that these issues can quickly be fixed ahead of time. This way, you end up saving money in the long term!

Where to Store and Service Light Aircraft During Winter Season?

Several independent and certified aircraft technicians can help you maintain your aircraft during the harsh winter months. However, if you want the most value, we recommend that you store your light aircraft with a comprehensive aero club.

Here at Sherburn, we share our airfield with a dedicated engineering facility that specialises in fixed-wing aircraft. The facility ensures that the club’s fleet is functioning to the best of its ability and also offers pre-buying inspections for pilots looking to purchase their own aircraft.

The facility helps keep the resale value of the aircraft up and also ensures the airworthiness of the aircraft. Sherburn Engineering issues Airworthiness Review Certificates (ARC) as well.

For winter storage, we offer bespoke hangarage services to our clients as well!

Apart from maintaining the club’s own fleet, the engineering facility at Sherburn caters to private pilots who own their own light aircraft as well. The services also include CAA approvals, scheduled maintenance as well as unscheduled maintenance.

Located conveniently on the premises of the club, the facility provides members easy access to a world-class engineering facility as well as top-of-the-line certified maintenance engineers.

WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB

Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.

If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.

With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.

For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.

The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.

Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.

In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.

Call us at 01977 682 674​​​, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, fee structure, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.

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