The snow is finally starting to melt, and the flying season is upon us once again. But, while you may be excited to get your airplane back in the air, it is essential to take some time out of your busy schedule and prepare your aircraft for the spring flying season.
Many people choose to park their planes in hangars during the winter. However, this hibernation for an extended period can damage them quickly. Moreover, mid-March and mid-April are the most challenging times to fly due to unpredictable wind gusts, bird strikes, thunderstorms, and rainstorms. For these reasons and others, your aircraft must go through detailed spring inspection and maintenance.
Here we will mention some of the top spring maintenance tips to help you prepare your aircraft for this year's flying season.
Thoroughly Clean Your Aircraft
It is nearly impossible to clean and wash your aircraft during winter. So, take the opportunity the warm and pleasant weather brings you to give your plane a thorough cleaning. It is important to note that cleaning your aircraft isn't just about its cosmetics and appearance but is also about its inspection and preservation.
Cleaning The Exterior
Begin by washing your aircraft's exterior and clearing away any dirt, bugs, and debris that may have accumulated on the surface over the winter. Make sure to use a mild cleaning agent and follow the wash with a wax or sealant to protect the exterior against corrosion. Once you're done cleaning your airplane's outer surface, shift your focus towards cleaning the interior.
Cleaning The Interior
To clean the interior, remove any debris or anything else that isn't attached to the aircraft. Once the plane is empty, vacuum it thoroughly and clean the seats, carpets, panels, and windows from the inside. During interior cleaning, make sure to use products specifically designed to clean an airplanes' interior.
Cleaning The Engine
Finally, open the cowling and clean the inside of your aircraft's engine, exhaust system, engine mounts, and more. If you don't have the experience of cleaning an engine, make sure to hire a professional aircraft technician to help guide you through the parts and ensure that you don't damage anything. You can also hire a professional aircraft cleaner who can efficiently and carefully remove any built-up of gunk and oil in the engines’ parts.
Inspect Your Aircraft For Mechanical Issues
Depending upon the climate and where you parked your aircraft, winter can cause unexpected damages. Moreover, aircraft inspection shouldn't be an annual event. You should get your aircraft regularly inspected to ensure no leaks, mechanical problems, or corrosion that can decrease your plane's airworthiness.
You can perform a spring inspection yourself or hire a professional aircraft technician to do it for you. Carefully inspect for any signs of corrosion, cracked seals, leaks, or other mechanical issues that cold temperatures and snow may have caused. If a problem is detected, make sure to get it fixed by a professional and reliable welder before your first scheduled flight.
Also, make sure that there is no evidence of nests made by birds, mice, wasps, or other critters. These creatures, if allowed to thrive in your aircrafts parts, can significantly decrease their airworthiness.
Check Your Aircraft’s Oil, Fuel System, And Battery
Change The Oil
Old oil can cause corrosion and pitting of components. The rusted metal particles can then combine with the oil and cause further damage. For this reason, it is essential to get your oil changed, even if you changed it before laying up your plane for winter.
Check The Fuel System
The fuel system also needs to be thoroughly inspected to guarantee no signs of damage or leaks. Check for condensation, which is a common problem if the tank is less-than-full and air is present inside the tank. Also, make sure there is no water in the tank’s bottom, which can cause corrosion. If you find foreign matter and water in your fuel, drain it ASAP to avoid further damage to the tank.
Check The Battery
Batteries can take a beating in cold temperatures. We recommend removing your aircrafts battery, inspecting it, and charging it using aircraft-specific chargers during spring maintenance and inspection.
These are some of the important spring maintenance and inspection tips you should follow before flying your aircraft. For more information on aircraft maintenance and inspection, visit our website, or contact us for personalized care.
