FAR 91.157 Operating in icing conditions

We have an *authorized procedure* out here in the Pacific Northwest,
developed by the FSDO Aviation Safety Manager and the folks at the TRACON,
specifically for use when icing conditions are forecast. It is called "Radar
Vectors for Ice" and involves vectors to climb away from the Cascades until
high enough to be well above the freezing level or in the clear. Obviously,
since this procedure was developed by the FAA and published in the Safety
Program newsletter every year at this time, a forecast of icing conditions
is not, in and of itself, a bar to flight.

There is a CYA caveat, of course, that nothing in the procedure should be
taken as encouragment to take off into icing conditions.

Bob Gardner

"Teacherjh" wrote in message
...

For us little guys, ANY ICE AT ALL is forbidden. (unless the aircraft
is
certified for known ice, which very few spam cans are).


Forbidden by what?


The laws of physics, ultimately. The FARs before that (though I can't
find a
specific rule, it would certainly be classified as "careless and reckless"
if
it led to an incident - it might be in the certification rules for
aircraft,
same as aerobatic stuff and equipment required.) The FAA has made it
clear
that unless the aircraft is certificated for known ice, you can't even
legally
enter forecast ice.

Now, to open another can of worms, the FAA has produced an excellent video
on
icing (which they show at various safety seminars) in which they take the
viewer through several flight scenarios. Well worth watching several
times.

However, I take a bit of an issue with one thing - the "unprotected"
(non-de-iced) airplane pilot is flying in the clouds in non-icing
conditions,
towards a front that contains ice (there is ice above). On takeoff the
weather
briefing indicated that the front would not be an issue, but the weather
moved
in faster. Temperatures go down, and he gets ice. Now what?

IN subsequent discussion, one possibility is to climb and get on top of
the
overcast, and it would be reasonable if the destination were clear.
(mabye
also in other situations). This would be legal (he's already in ice and
trying
to get out). However, if he were not YET in ice, it would be illegal
(deliberately entering icing conditions). Seems to me that at that point,
(he's in non-icing conditions, non-icing is behind him, temps going down ,
his
destination ahead of him, and ice ahead of him) continuing would be
illegal,
but the FAA guy didn't have the opinion that continuing would constitute
"deliberately entering ice..." and it's all a matter of bablance.

Well, yes but...

Jose

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