Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This one is likely going to be a bit controversial.
I share my debriefs because I'm in the unique position to engage a huge aviation hive mind while I learn and improve... so I am appreciative of all perspectives and definitely don't want to set a bad example and lead to someone making a poor decision.
I felt comfortable with my planning and execution for this flight; However, there will still be some people saying any ice at all anywhere nearby means cancel the flight in a non-FIKI airplane, which I think is a slippery slope to going nowhere if you want to operate #IFR in the winter, so there is nuance for sure, and I look forward to the continued discussion.
This flight was the outbound leg of my final trip of the 2025 season, from Toronto to compete in The Nancy Lynn Aerobatic Open in Warrenton, Virginia, where I managed a personal best 81% score on my final flight!
To get to Virginia on Oct 23rd, I faced 2 main challenges / threats which I’m debriefing:
1) Operating single pilot IFR in the winter within close proximity of icing conditions.
2) Arriving into the edge of the Washington DC SFRA airspace, which is VERY intimidating!
If you’re looking for the or the “correspondence between the FAA and the AOPA regarding flight into known icing and what the definition of known icing is” document, and/or the DC SFRA course, here are some links:
faa.gov/media/14431
aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2009/january/28/faa-letter-offers-new-known-icing-definition
I appreciate Bose Aviation being a Flight Chops supporter for 10 years!
boseaviation.com/experiences/first-solos-steve-thorne
Shout out to SiriusXM Aviation.
Having access to weather data while flying is a game changer!
siriusxm.com/aviation
Canadian link:
siriusxm.ca/aviation
Thanks to EarthX Lithium Batteries, for building the best battery technology and for supporting all Flight Chops content creation!
To learn about their products, visit:
earthxbatteries.com
____
#Flying episodes like this wouldn't be sustainable without the involvement of Patrons.
I want to thank all of you for your ongoing support!
To become a part of the Flight Chops core community
and gain access to exclusive raw cuts, behind the scenes videos, and more, visit:
patreon.com/join/FlightChops
Follow FlightChops on Instagram:
instagram.com/flightchops
Follow FlightChops on Facebook:
facebook.com/flightchops
FlightChops Sponsors & Supporters:
flightchops.com/supporters
FLIGHT CHOPS DISCLAIMER:
I am a "weekend warrior" private pilot, I fly for fun with no intentions of going commercial. I have had my PPL for over 20 years, but still consider each flight a learning experience - I generally take detailed notes after each flight to remind myself what went well or what I could do to improve.... Having GoPro cameras to record flights like this is invaluable. I find these self analysis videos very helpful in my constant quest to improve, and am happy to share. Feedback is invited; however, please keep it positive.
This one is likely going to be a bit controversial.
I share my debriefs because I'm in the unique position to engage a huge aviation hive mind while I learn and improve... so I am appreciative of all perspectives and definitely don't want to set a bad example and lead to someone making a poor decision.
I felt comfortable with my planning and execution for this flight; However, there will still be some people saying any ice at all anywhere nearby means cancel the flight in a non-FIKI airplane, which I think is a slippery slope to going nowhere if you want to operate #IFR in the winter, so there is nuance for sure, and I look forward to the continued discussion.
This flight was the outbound leg of my final trip of the 2025 season, from Toronto to compete in The Nancy Lynn Aerobatic Open in Warrenton, Virginia, where I managed a personal best 81% score on my final flight!
To get to Virginia on Oct 23rd, I faced 2 main challenges / threats which I’m debriefing:
1) Operating single pilot IFR in the winter within close proximity of icing conditions.
2) Arriving into the edge of the Washington DC SFRA airspace, which is VERY intimidating!
If you’re looking for the or the “correspondence between the FAA and the AOPA regarding flight into known icing and what the definition of known icing is” document, and/or the DC SFRA course, here are some links:
faa.gov/media/14431
aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2009/january/28/faa-letter-offers-new-known-icing-definition
I appreciate Bose Aviation being a Flight Chops supporter for 10 years!
boseaviation.com/experiences/first-solos-steve-thorne
Shout out to SiriusXM Aviation.
Having access to weather data while flying is a game changer!
siriusxm.com/aviation
Canadian link:
siriusxm.ca/aviation
Thanks to EarthX Lithium Batteries, for building the best battery technology and for supporting all Flight Chops content creation!
To learn about their products, visit:
earthxbatteries.com
____
#Flying episodes like this wouldn't be sustainable without the involvement of Patrons.
I want to thank all of you for your ongoing support!
To become a part of the Flight Chops core community
and gain access to exclusive raw cuts, behind the scenes videos, and more, visit:
patreon.com/join/FlightChops
Follow FlightChops on Instagram:
instagram.com/flightchops
Follow FlightChops on Facebook:
facebook.com/flightchops
FlightChops Sponsors & Supporters:
flightchops.com/supporters
FLIGHT CHOPS DISCLAIMER:
I am a "weekend warrior" private pilot, I fly for fun with no intentions of going commercial. I have had my PPL for over 20 years, but still consider each flight a learning experience - I generally take detailed notes after each flight to remind myself what went well or what I could do to improve.... Having GoPro cameras to record flights like this is invaluable. I find these self analysis videos very helpful in my constant quest to improve, and am happy to share. Feedback is invited; however, please keep it positive.
