Winter brings some of the most challenging — and rewarding — IFR flying of the year. Cold, dense air offers excellent aircraft performance and crisp climb rates, and many days feature crystal-clear ceilings above a thin cloud layer. But the season also introduces hazards that demand a more disciplined approach: icing, contaminated runways, sluggish engines, and unpredictable low-level weather.

Modern IFR panels are incredibly capable, but they’re still computers—and sometimes they glitch at the worst possible moment. When automation stumbles in IMC or during a high-workload phase, I fall back on a simple sequence: stabilize, simplify, and strategize.