I am thinking about going up to Alton Bay this weekend.

http://www.ossipeeaviation.com/alton-bay-ice.html

It is only about a 2.5 hour flight from me. I don't have any experience landing on ice. Besides the normal approach procedures, is there any other advice about landing on ice? Besides stomping on the brakes as soon as you touch down.

I was there both days last weekend and it's not the landing so much as the taxiing that I found difficult. Coming off the stub taxiway onto the parallel, I just couldn't make the turn and went wide. Not a problem because there was no snow to speak of and once I got to where it hadn't been plowed I had brakes for steering again. It'll be a different story after yesterday. Just keep it slow and under control and have the mindset that you can always shut down and hop out if you need to make a turn that you can't make. Dress warmly and have fun.

I did my first ice landings on a few small lakes/snowmobile trails last weekend and it was easier than I expected. I landed on about 3" of snow with tundra tires and it felt like a real soft, wet turf field.

What I learned:

Use a soft field technique.
Your only directional control is the rudder with a little juice of power.
Also, don't plan on doing a mag check unless you are tied down.

Ahhh... Mag check - didn't think about that one! Guess it would have to be a QUICK check so as not use too much runway!

Here is a link to a "How not to land at Alton Bay" video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjlJ2GB4RMU

Right now the airport says it is closed because they received a lot of snow and can't keep the runway clear because of the wind. Maybe next week end.

I went last weekend and did my first landing on the ice. I agree that taxiing is definitely the hard part. Landing is normal - just watch for snowmobile and people traffic.

My story goes something like this...

Got to the hangar and the battery was low. The preheat was plugged in, but the battery was so low that it wouldn't even turn over. So I went ahead and jumped it, thinking that I would fly for a while then check the battery. If it was good, I would stop at Alton Bay for brunch. After about half an hour, it seemed fine, so I headed for the ice runway.

Landing was fine and I started rolling out. Suddenly I seemed to be sliding left - pointed straight, but drifting left. I probably could have corrected with the rudder, but I didn't jump on it quick enough. I hit the snow bank, which was just about 8 inches of wind blown snow. I gave it some power, but couldn't get back to the runway, so I just pushed through the bank onto the packed snow/ice next to the runway. The traction was much better, so I taxied to the far end of the runway and went to cross over to the taxiway. Unfortunately, I forgot how grabby the bank was and got stuck.

So I turn off the plane and hop out to kick groves for the tires to go through. A couple snowmobilers come and give me a hand. Of course, the other traffic doesn't bother stopping, they just land take off right over my head! Hop back in and, that's right, the plane won't start. It turned over a few times, but before it caught the battery died.

So, the snowmobilers (one of whom was a pilot) go get a truck to help me jump the plane (I threw in the cables knowing it was a possibility). We jump it and I taxi across the runway. Unfortunately, I still can't taxi so I end up going through the bank on the other side. Did I mention, it was absolute glare ice (I wasn't the only poor schmuck having trouble taxiing). So I just taxi back to the "ramp" in the packed snow along the taxiway.

Now I have to negotiate the bank around the ramp - where the planes are just lined up waiting for me to slide into them. I find the lowest place in the bank where there is a parking spot and, after a few deep breaths, nudge it through. I manage to stop properly this time. But, of course, I can't turn the plane off now. So I finally figure out how to taxi - at idle. I just let it roll ever so slow and everything seems to work normally. I taxi back to the runway an get the heck out of there before anyone laughs too much!

Moral - taxi on glare ice at idle - absolutely as slow as possible. When landing, be ready to really jump on the rudder. (I know one should always be ready, but my 172 habits regarding rudder are pretty poor.)

Anyway, it was fun, adventurous, and the rest of the club members thought it was all good.

Michael at KCON

p.s. Later in the afternoon some poor guy did the same thing and an ice fisherman had parked his truck literally ten feet of the runway. Ouch.

Ah, glare ice, what fun we have in store for the unwary pilot!
Actually, I jest, I cut my teeth on that this fall while we had a perfect freeze up. The lakes here just froze and froze and while it was cold and we had a little wind, the ice was unmarred by any imperfections. Due to that, we had 2-3' of pure black ice. The problem I had was depth perception. It was almost impossible to tell your height above the ice. The first landing consisted of Plourde would describe as a Jounce and a grand one at that. The second lesson was that instead of cleaning the plane up immediately, leave it dirty (flaps out) 'cuase that's all that's going to slow you down. As far as taxiing, I reduced to idle and shut one mag off.
Make the approach as if it were a glass water landing and plan on a long run out. I touched the brakes at about 20-25 and sped up.

Ice conditions can change faster than you think.
Fish schools and current changes can make weak spots in one day.
One warm sunny day can produce surface run off which makes small holes larger and weaker.A piece of debris can take the suns rays and turn the spot into a weak hole.

Be aware of ice fishing area's. where a fish house was removed ,
An ice chunk may be left as well as a large spear hole.

Some ice ops seem more forgiving, more room, more time to decision point.Drifts are less on the prevailing winds shoreline.
Make a pass dragging the ski's and pass thru to take a second look for slush in the tracks.Slush has prevented departure for many Ski planes.

A tip for landes 3600 wheel Ski's.
The tail wheel can be removed if you depart and land on snow.
Emergency procedure, If its the only way to fly off a certain condition, like slush, The center hole can be covered by a piece of aluminum between the wheel and ski when the tire is deflated,
and re pumped just to hold the plate in place.

I like flying over good ice on large lakes. Its a good feeling knowing there are options. Following shorelines in northern Mn. Ontario lakes, you can catch wolf / deer kill and Eagles on kills at times.Keep the camera ready when sneaking over the tree lines low onto the ice.
Happy Winter Flying
http://www.skywagons.org/gallery/view_a ... ame=N180DV

I landed on ice this morning on wheels. The lake was snow-free and very smooth. I would echo Yellowmaule's comments that an ice landing should be made like a glassy water landing. Especially on a big lake there can be little visual reference for height.

This morning I had good braking with the tires, better than I thought I would. I'd suggest using as much aerodynamic braking as you can, ie. leave the flaps out and elevator full back. Leave yourself plenty of room to slow down and to taxi.