Do airplanes tend to float when landing in cold weather?

[snopercod]

A few days ago I made two landings in 0 deg. C weather and, at my usual indicated airspeed, the plane didn't want to quit flying. On one one particularly cringeworthy landing, I bounced a number of times. We all know the air is more dense in cold weather and thus provides more lift at a given speed, but isn't the Pitot-static system supposed to compensate for the density of the air? When I got home, I closely reviewing the video and noticed that my AoA system was giving me a more accurate indication of lift than my Airspeed Indicator. Is this a real phenomenon or was I just imagining things?

[ChiefPilot]

For a given throttle position, colder (denser) air means the engine can make more power. You may be carrying slightly more power than normal which results in the float.

[AviatorJ]

I thought it had to do with the air being more dense and providing more lift... I'm sure thats not the science way to say it but I notice the same thing.

Couple that with the STOL Kit on my 172 and I float quite a bit in the winter, took me a bit to get used to.

[GalinHdz]

Yes they can float but only if the lake isn't frozen.

[sblack]

On a cold day the dynamic pressure, which determines how much lift is produced, will be the same as on a warm day with the same indicated speed. On a cold day the true airspeed will be lower at a given indicated. But if you are using indicated (which you are) then temps won't make a difference. At a constant TRUE airspeed you would have more lift but even then, you would have more drag too.

The difference is the engine. I am sure your idle is higher at colder temps, causing you to float. Floating happens when you don't decelerate, either because you are too fast so you aren't on the back side of the power curve (i.e. down near the slow flight speed) or you have too much thrust. It sounds like you are in the right speed range, so you must have too much thrust.

[Neal@F14]

Originally Posted by GalinHdz

Yes they can float but only if the lake isn't frozen.

Badum-tish!
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-conten...of_misfits.gif

[Electrogunner]

Originally Posted by GalinHdz

Yes they can float but only if the lake isn't frozen.

First thing that popped into my tiny brain when I read the title...

But more engine performance at colder Temps makes sense too. As you know it takes very little throttle to decrease sink rate.

[Xkuzme1]

Just a thought... as opposed to bouncing down the runway... if you go around you get to try again :-)

[Electrogunner]

But if I bounce 3 times. That's my 3 tols within 90 days for passenger carry and it sAves fuel..... Sorry I had to

[snopercod]

Thanks for the opinions, guys. Yes, I was holding in a little power so that could have been a factor. What about ground effect? Could the cushion effect be greater in cold weather?