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Icing for General Aviation Pilots
Date: 1 Jan 06
Important facts about icing
Rev: Orig
An iced wing will always stall at a lower Angle of Attack (AOA) and higher Airspeeds
Ask two questions when dealing with icing:
o
Where is the ice?
o
Where is it safe?
Icing conditions exists when:
o
Visible moisture (Clouds or Precipitation)
o
Temperatures are in the freezing range (+2°C to -20°C)
Icing conditions do not exists when:
o
Outside of clouds
o
No freezing precipitation
o
Temperature outside of freezing range
Important factors to know over the entire route when icing conditions present
o
Ceilings
o
Cloud Tops
o
Freezing Levels
o
PIREPS
o
Frontal Activity
o
As well as AIRMET and SIGMET
A pilot cannot fly into forecast icing, not just known icing
Different kinds of aircraft accumulate ice differently
Aircraft are certified for flight into known icing within a specific envelope
Check De-icing or Anti-icing equipment on the ground when icing may be present during the flight
Keep a watchful eye on the Outside Air Temperature (OAT) gauge
When flying and need to change altitude or course due to icing use “IMMEDIATE” to help thecontroller understand the situation
Also tell them you can accept changes in heading to help the immediate change in altitude
Try to get out of icing as soon as possible in aircraft without any icing equipment
There are Five (5) outs to help you safely get around flying in icing
o
Climb → Get to colder temperatures where icing may not be present
Be aware that cloud tops can hold some of the most hazardous icing conditions
o
Descent → Get below clouds where icing may occur or get into warmer temperatures
Be aware that the lower you go can decrease your distance above the ground
o
Continue → If in the process of exiting icing conditions
o
Divert → circum navigate the icing conditions
o
If all else fails DECLARE AN EMERGENCY
It will increase your options that ATC can help you or that you can do
GET OUT OF FREEZING RAIN AND FREEZING DRIZZLE IMMEDIATELY
o
No aircraft can handle a moderate amount of accumulation due to freezing precipitation
If you are in icing and ATC cannot get you out of it quick enough DECLARE AND EMERGENCY
Make PIREPS (Pilot Reports) to help ATC know and other pilots of the conditions at that time
o
There is a small problem with icing reports, they are subjective due to the experience of the pilot and the type of aircraft
Don’t be afraid to ask ATC for PIREPS
Report the absence of icing when forecasted
There are Three (3) kinds of icingFor reference only, does not replace any government approved publication.Page 1 of 3
Icing for General Aviation Pilots
Date: 1 Jan 06
Important facts about icing
Rev: Orig
o
Rime → has a milky look (like that of a freezer that needs defrosting)
Conforms to the airfoil
Accumulates in a pointed shape
o
Clear → transparent look
Rough accumulation
Forms horns which dramatically increase drag
o
Mixed → clear in the center with white on the sides
Could have any of the above mentions qualities
There are Three (3) amounts of accumulation
o
Light → ¼ inch accumulation within 15 – 60 minutes
occasional use of icing equipment
o
Moderate → ¼ inch accumulation within 5 – 15 minutes
Frequent use of icing equipment
o
Severe → greater than ¼ inch accumulation within 5 – 15 minutes
Exit immediately, no aircraft is certified for flight in severe icing
Give PIREPS
Interpolate PIREPS
o
If a B737 is climbing to altitude and incurs light icing a C182 may incur severe icing due toduration within the icing altitude
o
Each aircraft will accumulate icing differently due to design and icing equipment
At the first sign of icing turn on all icing protection
o
Window Heat
o
Prop Deice
o
Fluid Surface De-icer
o
Pneumatic Boots
o
Pitot Heat (if not already on)
Keep wings clean
Ice bridging only affected early boots when times for inflation and deflation were increased
Previous pilots were told to wait until at least a ¼ inch was on the wing, no longer required
With modern boots there has never been a case when ice bridging has cause and accident
Struts, OAT gauge probes, and other similar size items pick up ice before wings including tailsurfaces
Test conducted by NASA on several modern airfoils demonstrated that, in some instances, exposureto clear icing for 2 minutes could double the drag, reduce the maximum lift by 25-30% and reducethe critical angle of attack by 8 degrees (which would correspond to a substantially higher stall speed)
NASA saw a 30% increase in drag on the aircraft due to accumulations in areas without icing protection
When on top of the clouds and you see a rainbow that means that there is liquid water in the clouds
If possible hand fly the aircraft through all possible icing conditions
Hand fly all approaches in icing conditions
Symptoms of a wing stall due to icing
o
Airframe Buffet
o
Sluggish or Ineffective Roll Control
o
Don’t rely on the stall warning horn it may have frozen over due to icing accumulations
Recovery from a wing stallFor reference only, does not replace any government approved publication.Page 2 of 3
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