| Many people who have a fear of flying only | | | | are visible moisture such as clouds, rain, drizzle, and |
| comprehend the hazards of icing condition involving | | | | you must be in the right temperature range between |
| airplanes taking off. Icing can be a hazard for aircraft | | | | plus 6 degrees Celsius & minus 15 degrees |
| in flight too. When it comes to icing, you should | | | | Celsius. There are some exceptions when you could |
| always have respect for it. The FAA always | | | | still get icing conditions in slightly colder conditions |
| emphasize that you must have a clean airplane. That | | | | such as flying through cumulonimbus type clouds. But |
| has been hammered into the brains of every pilot | | | | generally, its difficult to pick up icing when beyond |
| since their first days in flight school. Basically, having a | | | | minus 20 degrees Celsius. If you are flying in clear |
| clean airplane means having no ice, snow, or frost | | | | blue skies, you will not get in flight icing. Icing is |
| adhering to the airplane. Airlines make sure that all | | | | measured on a scale from light, moderate, & |
| ground personnel receives yearly training on how to | | | | severe. Any aircraft that is approved to fly into icing |
| properly deice the aircraft on the ground. Only | | | | condition will generally not have a problem in |
| experience ramp personnel are allowed to deice | | | | moderate conditions. |
| aircraft. Communication is very important. They get | | | | But, you will probably want to change altitude soon |
| trained on applying the right temperature, mixture | | | | to get out of it. Severe icing can cause a lot of |
| ratio, & where to apply it on the aircraft. | | | | problems for any airplane approved in icing conditions. |
| Airline pilots are trained to make sure they depart | | | | Basically, it means ice accretion is continuous making |
| the gate with a clean airplane, & if there is any | | | | the aircraft's anti-ice system ineffective. Severe icing |
| doubt they will get the airplane deice anyway. Usually | | | | is more of a problem at lower altitudes, but a quick |
| in the cockpit both pilots would have time to make | | | | change in altitude will usually get you out of it. In the |
| an observation if there is any ice on the airplane. | | | | higher flight levels where most commercial jets fly its |
| Sometimes flight attendants, or ramp personnel will | | | | generally too cold to pick up icing. If an aircraft in |
| be the first to notice it, & bring it to the crews | | | | severe icing doesn't change course, or altitude soon it |
| attention. Departing with a clean airplane is a | | | | could be in real danger. Fortunately, Severe icing |
| collective effort with everyone working together as | | | | condition doesn't happen that often. |
| a team to ensure a safe flight. But, ultimately it is the | | | | There are basically two types of in flight icing. Rime |
| captain's responsibility. | | | | ice is formed when super cooled water freezes on |
| Once you get airborne, your icing problems doesn't | | | | contact with the airplanes wing. Rime ice looks like |
| just go away. Most turboprop, & jet aircraft | | | | granular form white type with entrapped air. The |
| have anti-icing systems to prevent the ice build up on | | | | other type is clear air ice. Clear air is a glossy form of |
| certain critical parts of the aircraft. For example, they | | | | ice a little harder to notice visually. Its a slow freezing |
| usually will have engine anti-ice to prevent ice build up | | | | of large super cooled water droplets. It forms a |
| in the engine intake. There are wing anti-ice heaters | | | | sheet of ice. Regardless of the ice form there are |
| on jets to melt off ice. While turboprops have boots | | | | some clues that trained pilots could notice when they |
| that inflate like a balloon to break off ice on their | | | | are picking up icing in flight. When pilots fly into visible |
| wing. Other features are windshield anti-ice, fuel heat | | | | moisture its almost instinctively to look at the |
| to prevent ice build up in the fuel lines,& anti-ice | | | | temperature gauge in the cockpit to see if your in |
| that heat certain probes that give pilots instrument | | | | that temperature range to get icing. One big clue is |
| readings. Airplanes that have all of these features are | | | | the metal rod on the windshield wipers are usually |
| approved to fly into icing conditions. | | | | your first clue to icing because they will start to build |
| But, just because you are approved to fly into icing | | | | up ice on it. Also, you will notice a slight decrease in |
| conditions doesn't mean pilots will stay leveled at an | | | | your airspeed. Other clues can come from the |
| altitude in prolong icing conditions. As a pilot, you | | | | autopilot that will start having a harder time |
| always want to try to get out of icing whenever | | | | maintaining altitude. The autopilot will need more |
| feasible. Icing degrades aircraft's performance & | | | | & more trim, or higher pitch to maintain altitude. |
| aerodynamics so there's no incentive to stay in it. | | | | But, there are so many clues that any professionally |
| Staying in icing conditions produces drag, & | | | | trained pilot can recognize very early before the icing |
| makes the airplane heavier therefore wasting more | | | | becomes dangerous. |
| fuel. Furthermore, for airplanes not approved for icing | | | | Finally, one last icing condition that is dangerous to all |
| conditions this could be dangerous. For examples of | | | | aircraft is freezing rain. This is also another rare type |
| airplanes not approved for icing conditions would be | | | | of icing. Most civilian aircraft are not approved to fly |
| some light general aviation single engine type airplanes | | | | in freezing rain. Generally, the best thing to do is to |
| & some light twin engines. | | | | avoid that area of freezing rain, or cancel a flight. |
| Some of the conditions you need to get icing in flight | | | | Freezing rain makes anti-icing systems ineffective. |