[Pilots] CAP winter ops update

[Greg Bestul]

Hello MN Wing Pilots,
We are definitely in the MN deep freeze! The cold temperatures have grounded us for quite a while now.
A couple of winter operations items I wanted to highlight:

  *   When looking at temperatures we can fly in, our wing supplement to 70-1 gives us limitations
  *       0F and above  no restrictions
  *       0F to -10F        no touch and go ops, limit power off ops
  *      -10F to -20       no A/C ops without wing CC, CV, or DO approval
  *     -20 and below  no A/C ops without CAP/DO or designee approval

The key to keep in mind is that these temps INCLUDE windchill.
It looks like the temperatures will get back to more reasonable levels this coming weekend. Looking at the last time our planes have flown, most have not moved since early to mid January. So try to make an effort to have someone in your squadron get the plane out of your hangar this weekend when the temperatures are better, and if nothing else start it and run it for 10-15 minutes. Of course flying it would be preferable. We want to head off a string of dead batteries!!
Also make sure your planes are plugged in, with engine and prop covers installed. You will have much better luck getting your plane started and much less warm up time if the engine is already warm, plus keeping the engine warm will help keep the battery warm so it doesn't freeze.
MN winters are always challenging when it comes to aircraft operations. This one is no different. CAP counts on our experience and dedication in keeping the fleet of aircraft operating in the extreme winter conditions.

Thank you for all your help and dedication,
Capt. Greg Bestul
Minnesota Wing Director of Operations
Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
612-251-4786
GoCivilAirPatrol.com<https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/>
MNCAP.org<https://www.mncap.org/>
[cid:f18655e6-05c8-4e46-9af0-e7c8777f4dae]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.mncap.org/pipermail/pilots/attachments/20260126/c6369277/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 21462 bytes
Desc: image.png
URL: <https://lists.mncap.org/pipermail/pilots/attachments/20260126/c6369277/attachment-0001.png>