Flying my A1C Husky this summer on Wipair 2100s has been a blast, but at we start heading into fall i am thinking about winter time operations with the plane. I don't plane to put it back on its bush wheels for the winter, so hoping to just get out and fly it on nice days to stay current. Are there any restrictions when it comes to cold weather and floats. I have heard that some manufactures don't want you to cycle the gear when temps are below freezing? Haven't been able to find this written down anywhere though. Thanks for you help

Couple thoughts

You’re spraying your tail when you take off

Survival in a water mishap is low, when the temp its low is lower
Also folks who may try to rescue you

If you have a major life or death take your working IQ and cut it by 25%, if the water is cold cut that in half


Gear as you said, but in my case I didn’t see a issue when it operated at low temp

Be careful

For me below 40f I really need a good reason to hit the water

That’s also as someone who has full dunk training and frequent recurrent flight training as well as medical training.

At the very very least you should do dunk training

NineThreeKilo wrote:Couple thoughts

You’re spraying your tail when you take off

Survival in a water mishap is low, when the temp its low is lower
Also folks who may try to rescue you

If you have a major life or death take your working IQ and cut it by 25%, if the water is cold cut that in half


Gear as you said, but in my case I didn’t see a issue when it operated at low temp

Be careful

For me below 40f I really need a good reason to hit the water

That’s also as someone who has full dunk training and frequent recurrent flight training as well as medical training.

At the very very least you should do dunk training

I agree with all this-

We always shut down operations when reaching 35 Fahrenheit at the large floatplane operator I used to fly for. Even in salt water we would start picking up icicles in the rigging around there.

That same operator paid to put me through dunk training. That was in a heated pool with lots of light and a white pvc facsimile of a Cessna fuselage AND safety divers AND it was still terrifying. I can’t recommend it too much for anyone who flys airplanes over water on a regular basis.

As long as you stick to land it won’t be much different than regular winter ops.

Sorry if I didn't ask my question well.
I have no intention of landing in water this winter, here in Maine all fresh water will be frozen and I wont land in the salt water. My question is if i am just going to go runway to runway are their any restrictions with the floats, pumps and hydraulics due to the cold weather. Just looking to fly enough to stay current and comfortable. Had heard that some manufactures don't want you to cycle the gear in the cold.
thanks for your help

Your question is most appropriate for the manufacturer, Wipaire in this case.

Simple hydraulic systems (typically employing 5606 fluid) are operated in very cold climates routinely in systems to include brakes, skis, primary and secondary flight controls and landing gear amongst other specialty systems. Full disclosure, there are temperature thresholds when some manufacturers dictate a hydraulic warmup procedure during cold weather operations, typically in larger more complex systems. This procedure typically involves cycling hydraulic components (flaps, flight controls etc.) a prescribed number of times (based on coldest preceding 24 hr temp) after engine/s start, (beyond the scope of your system).

When in doubt, consult the manufacturer.

TR

tbabbott wrote:Sorry if I didn't ask my question well.
I have no intention of landing in water this winter, here in Maine all fresh water will be frozen and I wont land in the salt water. My question is if i am just going to go runway to runway are their any restrictions with the floats, pumps and hydraulics due to the cold weather. Just looking to fly enough to stay current and comfortable. Had heard that some manufactures don't want you to cycle the gear in the cold.
thanks for your help

Ah

Really not a notable difference between any other RG airplane in cold weather

With my Edos I operated in some pretty cold weather (I’d call it around the teens as it was just too hard on the plane and me), never had a issue

I did a flight with a plane with somewhat older wips, on one or two occasions I also had to use the hand pump to break the gear free, but that was temps in the teens


I got nothing in the manual for my plane, however going into the AFM for the 208 amphib (wip 8750s) there’s this



Id say make sure to avoid ice like crazy, so no known icing conditions, including flying in lower visibility

Also make sure you read the cold weather ops supplement for your engine, both cont and lyc have them online

Id much rather have an engine failure in the winter with Amphibs on than just wheels. you can land on a lake or snow covered field with the gear up and you're basically on skis.

land on crunchy seep snow with wheels and your will be stopped immediately or upside down.

ive seen pictures of beavers, 206, and 185s all land and take off on lakes with amphibs in the winter.

make sure you have gear mirrors and go have fun!

I used to ferry planes to/from Washington and Idaho to Wip in the dead of winter. I would fly high and it would be COLD. Only twice, I had the hydraulics so cold that the circuit breakers for the gear pumps would pop on selecting gear down. Just had to hand pump the gear down. But I’m guessing you wont be flying in temps that cold.

Am more choosy which ice roads to land on with amphibs. Rattled down a rough one once and lost a bunch of float plugs...

I got to do Alton!