As the days grow longer and spring draws near, Alaskans’ thoughts turn to flying and fishing. Then we while away the hours in planning and preparation. And well, planning an Alaska adventure is half the fun.

Pilots should especially make use of these winter days to refresh their skills in navigation, reading the weather, and maneuvering the aircraft.

Of all the tips we can pass along, the first, second, and third are “practice, practice, and practice.” This can easily be done by flying one of the 13 aviation training devices of the Medallion Foundation located in communities across the state. General aviation pilots may take advantage of this training by joining the Medallion Flyer program.

The Medallion Foundation, formed by the Alaska Air Carriers Association to raise the level of professionalism among their member pilots and companies, shares these tools with general aviation (GA) pilots, who participate in the full program. Participants may earn a discount on aircraft insurance upon completion of the skill-enhancing training. Learn more at www.medallionfoundation.org .

Home computers and a copy of the simulator program also offer opportunities to familiarize oneself with some airports and the aircraft’s flight environment.

Tip 4: Get to know your aircraft. What are its capabilities and limitations? How much weight is too much? How does a pilot calculate weight and balance? Each year improperly loaded cargo is a factor in a significant number of General Aviation accidents according to the National Transportation Safety Board. While it is important to have survival gear on board, think twice about including heavy canned beverages. Plan on making two trips to bring home that record-sized moose carcass rather than overloading your Super Cub. All objects should be tied down. Loose objects can become deadly missiles upon impact.

Tip 5: Once the technical capabilities are familiar, a pilot should use one of those first spring days to physically inspect the aircraft. Don’t be afraid to run your fingers over the wings and rivets to check for any winter damage. Winter ice and snow can inflict damage to an aircraft that is not easily noticed except by careful inspection. This might also be a good time to get an annual inspection and have any maintenance items taken care of.

Tip 6: If the weather is too cold to touch the metal, a pilot can turn his or her attention to learning weather patterns. All too often General Aviation accidents are weather related. Pilots start out in weather where they have three miles of visibility and have visual reference with the ground, but they fly into clouds and rain that obscure their vision. If they are not rated to fly with instruments and don’t have proper instrumentation on board, they often find themselves without a way out of the dilemma. For pilots flying under Visual Flight Rules, seeing the weather while they are still on the ground is a big plus.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s weather camera system, available on the Internet at http://akweathercams.faa.gov , provides real-time images of air strips and mountain passes at 65 locations across the state. A pilot can view the weather on route and at the destination airport. There are even cameras in such places as Lake Clark Pass to aid in making a no-go decision if conditions are not favorable before take-off.

One chief pilot of an Alaskan carrier watches the webcam throughout the day to observe how weather patterns move in and out of key areas. He can dispatch his fleet accordingly to avoid weather conflicts and delays, thus saving the company money.

A private pilot using the weather cams this way could very well save his own life as well as the cost of gas by using the tool to plan a route or change a destination altogether.

Tip 7: If one does not have access to a computer, the next tip is to get to know the friendly folks at a Flight Service Station. They provide a range of services by radio or phone including interpreting weather-cam images. There are three Automated Flight Service Stations at Juneau, Kenai, and Fairbanks and a number of auxiliary Flight Service Stations in places such as Talkeetna, Barrow, Sitka, or Homer.

Tip 8: Learn what the Flight Service Station specialists have to offer in terms of official weather reports, pilot reports, and notices of airmen. Jon Preston, Kenai Flight Service Station Manager, points out that National Transportation Safety Board statistics show pilots who use Flight Service are five times less likely to have an accident than pilots who don’t. Flight Service provides a variety of services and essential information—some not available anywhere else. The Flight Service Specialists don’t want your next flight to be your last! Contact Flight Service before you fly.

Tip 9: Attending one of the dozens of flying seminars sponsored by the Alaskan Aviations Safety Foundation, Northern Air Users Groups, and the FAA can be informative and fun. These events are a good opportunity to learn while swapping aviation tales with other pilots. A full schedule of such gatherings can be found on the new website: www.faasafety.gov. This website actually has online courses for both mechanics and pilots, and a complete resources library. All an airman has to do is register his or her e-mail address and select preferences in types of information desired.

Tip 10: Finally, make your first flight of the season a refresher with a Certified Flight Instructor. The benefits are many: An instructor can help identify areas where skills need improvement and any bad or lazy habits. Pilots who routinely fly with a CFI seek excellence in airmanship and continue to aspire to professionalism. Check off each of these and then you’ll be ready for flying, fishing, and fun.