From Frost to Flowers: Spring is on the Horizon

The shift from winter to spring can feel like waking up after a long hibernation—for pilots and airplanes alike. After months of short days, cold hangars, and fewer flights, both our skills and our machines may be carrying more “rust” than we’d like to admit. Add in spring’s unpredictable blend of melting snow, surprise storms, and rapidly changing conditions, and you have one of the most deceptively challenging seasons in general aviation.

This is the moment when complacency whispers that we’re fine, that nothing has changed, that we can simply pick up where we left off. But cognitive rust is real, and it hides in the corners of our proficiency. A spring flight review—or at least a focused refresher with a CFI—can be one of the smartest investments of the year. Even a simulator session can help shake loose the cobwebs, rebuild muscle memory, and rehearse the kinds of unexpected scenarios that winter flying never threw at us. Complacency regarding our fitness to fly can also be lurking. An honest appraisal using the IM SAFE checklist is important for any flight. Note that spring can bring allergies and that some OTC medications, especially those containing diphenhydramine, can significantly reduce pilot capabilities. Read the ingredients on any OTC meds and ask a pharmacist to recommend something that is not impairing.

The Airplane Awakens Too

An aircraft that has been sitting quietly for weeks—or months—deserves more than a routine preflight. “Never take a problem airborne” becomes especially relevant in spring, when small issues have had plenty of time to grow unnoticed.

Start with the basics: a slow, deliberate walk‑around looking for hangar rash or ramp dings that might have gone unreported. Then dig deeper.

Fuel: The Springtime Trouble Magnet

Fuel systems are notorious for misbehaving after periods of inactivity. Water is the usual culprit, and spring’s freeze‑thaw cycles only make it more likely. Take generous samples from every drain. Check the POH or AFM to confirm you know where they all are. I once embarrassingly discovered a “mystery drain” after having flown that type of airplane for more than 50 hours.

A quick glance at the fuel sample is not sufficient. Study it carefully. Any debris could signal something serious. If there is debris in the fuel sample, there is likely more in the gascolator or main fuel strainer. Save the sample and show it to a qualified technician before flight.

A clear or greyish layer on the bottom of the sample indicates water in the fuel. The presence of any water should raise red flags. Where there is a little water, there may be much more lurking in the fuel system. Keep sampling until two consecutive samples show only fuel. Then rock the wings if possible or move the airplane back and forth with a towbar to get the fuel sloshing in the tanks. Move on to something else or just have a cup of coffee and let the airplane sit for at least 30 minutes. Sample again and hope for at least two consecutive water-free samples. If water is still present, it is time to get a qualified technician involved. It is impossible to overstate the importance of avoiding fuel contamination.

Inspect vents for obstructions, confirm caps and seals are tight, and scan the aircraft for any hint of seepage. Move the fuel selectors through every position and make sure they lock cleanly into each detent. Smooth movement now can prevent a very bad day later.

Nature’s Uninvited Passengers

Spring is prime time for biological surprises. Rodents love warm, quiet airplanes. Birds can build a nest in the time it takes you to grab a cup of coffee. Insects treat pitot tubes and vents like luxury condos.

Check under the panel for chewed wires or nesting material. Look under seats and in baggage compartments. Inspect the cowling—really inspect it. Birds can hide nests in places you can’t see without removing panels. I learned this the hard way when a hidden nest caused an engine‑compartment fire just moments before takeoff. I thought I had done a thorough preflight inspection.

And don’t forget the bugs. A cabin vent full of angry bees is the kind of distraction no checklist prepares you for. Pitot tubes are another favorite nesting spot, and some obstructions are nearly invisible. Make “airspeed alive” a habit early in every takeoff roll.

Wake the Systems Gently

Once the airplane passes inspection, it’s time to wake up the systems. If the battery is too weak to start the engine, charge it properly—don’t hand‑prop, and don’t assume the alternator will fix a low battery in flight.

After startup, taxi long enough to feel the brakes and tires working. If you have a controllable‑pitch prop, cycle it a few times. If practical, run the engine on each fuel‑selector position for a couple of minutes. When you’re done, shut down and do a post‑flight inspection even though you never left the ground. Look for leaks, stains, or anything that wasn’t there an hour ago.

Spring Weather: Beautiful, Deceptive, Demanding

Once you’re ready to fly, spring weather can provide a real challenge. This season is a battleground of competing air masses, and the results can be dramatic. You may still run into lingering IFR as warm and cold systems collide, and structural icing can continue to lurk at altitude long after you’ve mentally moved on from winter. Convective activity starts waking up again too, bringing a level of instability we haven’t seen in months. Even on clear days, density altitude can catch you off guard as dark surfaces heat quickly, and those inviting‑looking turf runways may hide soft, mushy spots beneath the surface. Add in gusty winds and crosswinds that expose any rust in your stick‑and‑rudder skills. Mechanical turbulence around trees and obstacles, and low‑level windshear shows up more often than we’d prefer, and it’s clear that spring demands your full attention.

NOTAMs often lag behind reality, especially for turf conditions. And spring winds—great for kites, terrible for landings—can expose just how much finesse we lost over the winter. Review go‑around procedures before you need them, not after you wish you had.

A Season That Rewards the Prepared

As winter finally releases its grip, spring invites us back into longer days, smoother air, and more frequent flying. But the season rewards only those who approach it with humility and discipline.

Shake off the cognitive rust. Give the airplane—and the pilot the attention both deserve. Respect the weather’s mood swings. Do these things, and spring becomes not a season of surprises, but a season of renewed confidence—of smooth takeoffs, smart decisions, and the joy of returning to the sky with purpose.

Gene Benson has had a lifetime of aviation experience.  He has lived and breathed aviation from his first official flying lesson at the age of 14, to his first solo on his sixteenth birthday, to his 8,000 hours of flight instruction given. He has served as the Dean of Aeronautics for an aviation college, as an instructor for a major domestic airline, consultant to several foreign and domestic airlines, and to business aviation.  His academic background includes degrees in psychology, education, and business. His specialty now is the application of human factors to error reduction and safety in aviation and other industries. He is presently a FAASTeam Lead Representative and has recently served as a member of the NBAA Safety Committee. View Gene’s work at genebenson.comand https://www.vectorsforsafety.com/.

Reprint by permission only. If you would like to obtain reprint requirements and request permission, please email us at [email protected].

Renting an airplane or learning to fly? Learn more and start your non-owned aircraft insurance quote from Avemco Insurance Company here. Own or building an airplane? Start your owned aircraft insurance quote here.