Roy Smith wrote:
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

Especially since the FAA is now regarding "known icing conditions" to
mean any time when there is a mention of icing in the forecast, even
if you have pireps of no icing.


You say that like it's a bad thing. I don't think it is.

We just don't know enough about icing to be sure when or where it's
going to occur. If our best prediction methods say "there's likely to
be ice in clouds between 5000 and 12000", just because you fly into a
cloud at 8000 and don't pick up any ice doesn't mean the predicion is
any less valid.

I think it is a bad thing. We don't know enough to know where it is
likely to occur as you say. This means that forecasting it is virtually
impossible, but the FAA will play it very conservative and forecast
anywhere that there is the slightest possibility of icing. This greatly
reduces the operational flexibility of many types of aircraft during
many parts of the country for a good portion of the year. I think it is
much better to let the pilot take a look and retreat if necessary.


Matt