Ask the IFR Expert: How Should I Adjust My Personal Minimums for Winter IFR Flying

Winter IFR flying adds layers of complexity that don’t exist in warmer months—icing potential, contaminated runways, harsh terrain, and fewer good weather alternates. With those factors in mind, there are some key areas in which an instrument-rated pilot should rethink and adjust personal minimums for winter operations.

Most pilots think of personal minimums as static numbers, but winter is a reminder that they should be dynamic. Rather than simply raising ceilings and visibility across the board, start by identifying the risks winter uniquely adds—and then build buffers around them.

Weather margins:

Increase ceiling and visibility minimums at both the destination and alternate. Marginal IFR that might be acceptable in July can feel very different when freezing levels are low.

Icing tolerance:

Be honest about your aircraft’s capabilities and your own experience. If ice is possible, your plan should already include exit strategies—altitudes, routes, or alternates that keep risks to a minimum.

Fuel reserves:

Winter IFR often means reroutes and altitude changes. Add extra fuel beyond legal minimums to account for deviations around weather or unexpected delays.

Runway and braking considerations:

A long, dry runway in summer may become marginal when contaminated. Raise minimum runway length requirements and be cautious with tailwinds or crosswinds on winter days.

Pilot readiness:

Cold, stress, and reduced daylight all affect performance. If you haven’t flown IFR recently—or haven’t done so in winter conditions—tighten minimums until proficiency catches up.

Winter IFR isn’t about avoiding flying altogether, after all, personal flying is all about utility and enjoyment. But you should consider adjusting minimums and reducing the margin for surprises.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including IFRFocus.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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