North Dakota Weather

As I'm writing this, North Dakota is currently being covered in a blanket of white snow. The part of me that wants to have a cup of tea and read a book is very excited, but the flight student part of me is not. I got weathered for the first time this semester because of the snow this morning. We all knew this day was coming, especially since it tends to snow around the beginning of October here in Grand Forks. Because of this snow, I've never been more glad to be in flight instructor training. Our CFI course at UND is set up to have one briefing followed by a flight. We can also skip ahead for our briefings if necessary. Normally on a snow day like this, I would wake up and get weathered. Today, I got to skip ahead and do a briefing. I'm glad to be able to get a lesson done even with a blizzard outside.

As winter approaches, I'm missing the Piper Seminole more and more. The heater worked great in this aircraft, and the Piper Archer tends to heat up halfway through the flight. I've finally taken my winter clothes out of storage after my last flight, when I realized gloves would have been very nice during preflight. This is one of the biggest drawbacks to UND, but the flying is worth the cold. If I could recommend anything to freshman who are about to experience their first winter, it is that you can never overdress. It is 100% better to have thick gloves and a coat while flying and not need it than the other way around. My freshman year, I tried very hard to suffer through the winter without wearing what I needed. Now, I'll throw on a parka anytime I leave the house.

Pictured: UND Aerospace in the Winter