Once certificated, pilots may wander further afield. Your travels and your aviation ambitions might take you to a completely different environment, where preparations for your flight will also look very different from what you are accustomed to.

Suppose you usually fly in the Northeast, like I do. It’s winter now, so whenever I venture out in a small aircraft, I take appropriate clothing, in case I get stuck somewhere. I have a coat, gloves, and a fuzzy hat, along with a thermos or travel mug with something warm. I’ll usually be flying over civilization—a relatively dense network of roads, towns, and small cities. If I had to do an off-airport landing in, say, a field, I likely would be able to walk to a nearby farm, or a gas station, to get help. Also, there will probably be cellphone service.

But I’ve also flown in the desert Southwest, where the terrain is wild and harsh, and there are wide swaths of unpopulated land, and no phone networks. Before I fly, I assess how a flight in that environment is different than back east. Perhaps I might take an extra bottle of water, or I’ll wear lightweight clothing that will protect my skin from the sun. And if I’m headed to the high desert or the mountains… density altitude could be a factor that flatland pilots sometimes forget.

Also, remember that sand or dust can accumulate in places on the aircraft where it’s not supposed to. So a preflight inspection in that environment might be different, too. At night, the vast open space is all dark, with precious few lights or landmarks, so I might brush up on my terrestrial navigation skills and ensure I really know what I’m doing with the GPS and autopilot.

Or perhaps if I visit friends in South Florida, where the humidity is high, I’ll need to remember that induction icing can occur any time, even during the warm summer months, and therefore to use the carburetor heat appropriately. If I anticipate flying over water, say down to the Florida Keys, it might be wise to wear, or have handy, a life vest or another flotation device. Corrosion is a problem in that climate, too, so I’ll be mindful of that during the preflight check of the airframe as well. Thunderstorms often pop up during the summer afternoons, so my best bet is to fly in the early mornings.

Preparation is the key to any enjoyable and safe flight, every time. During your planning, take a moment to consider where you’re going. Climate, terrain, and other conditions will determine how you’ll fly, what you take, and what you can safely leave behind.