Training and Safety Tip: Verify clarity

A close look at the clarity of windscreen and windows should be part of your preflight inspection checklist (and well worth adding if it isn't). Missing a dirty, frosty, or otherwise obscured view during the walkaround can cost you valuable time. Imagine climbing aboard, buckling up, and only then noticing that your windscreen needs to be cleaned. As inconvenient as it may be, it's also unsafe to fly this way: Go get the cleaning supplies and ensure the windscreen is clear of insect splatter or anything else that obscures your view.

General aviation windscreens and windows are made of acrylic, which is softer than glass and can easily be scratched if cleaned with a sponge or a paper towel. Application of some household window cleaners can cause permanent fog. Steer clear of paper products and apply an aviation-specific acrylic cleaner, using a soft, clean microfiber to wipe away debris. Use an up-and-down motion for this. Do not wipe in circles, which can leave circular smudges that defeat the purpose of this exercise.

Both cloth and cleaner can be purchased wherever you find aviation supplies, and they cost only a little more than household or automotive cleaning products. The additional expense is well worth it to extend the life of your windscreen and increase the safety of your flights.

Using the wrong products or cleaning maneuvers can scratch or discolor the windscreen, damage that makes scanning for traffic, especially in sunny conditions, much more difficult.

While flying under visual flight rules (VFR), every pilot must be able to see and avoid other aircraft. Trying to do so with an unclean windscreen covered with smashed bugs (or circular smudges) is challenging. Debris can be surprisingly deceiving and easily mistaken for an aircraft in the distance, which can distract you from identifying and avoiding actual aircraft—and potentially lead to a midair collision.

A dirty or foggy windshield also interferes with your eyes' ability to focus on distant objects, and therefore your sky-scanning. It won't make spotting traffic any easier at night, or in low visibility conditions, either. Dirt on a windshield significantly increases sun glare and slows the departure of rain drops that otherwise quickly shed in flight, allowing moisture to accumulate and make matters worse.

For additional advice and information about the proper care of your windscreen, ask your CFI, a mechanic, or an expert from the appropriate type-specific aircraft club or owner group. Learn more about collision avoidance in this AOPA Air Safety Institute Safety Spotlight.