Aer Arann pilot finds novel solution to limited visibility

The pilot of an Aer Arann ATR 72 flying for Aer Lingus was forced to fly the aircraft into an area of rain when windscreen wipers and heaters proved ineffective in removing salt deposits from the twin turboprop’s windscreen. The aircraft had already aborted one attempted landing at Cork Airport in January 2014 due to decreased visibility caused by the buildup in sea salt residue on the windscreen. Ireland’s Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) has commended the pilot for his ingenuity. Following AAIU’s investigation, the aircraft operator, now Stobart Air, has issued a Flight Crew Instruction on sea salt aerosol