Making the safe decision (AKA "I hate AIRMET ZULU")

On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 22:19:12 +0000 (UTC), (Paul
Tomblin) wrote:

In a previous article, Ron Rosenfeld said:
An FIP map that I downloaded last night valid at 0900Z showed significant
icing probability along your route at 6,000', although it did look doable
at 3,000'.

The MEA between CTR and ALB is 6,000 though. I'm looking at the
possibility of going VFR to the Hudson Valley and then the Mohawk Valley.
But there are still those hills to the south of Rochester.

Thanks for you advice and everybody else's on this thread. I feel like
I've made the right decision, but it's easy to second guess yourself.

For sure you made the correct decision. It's a losing game to try to
second guess yourself, especially with ice.

If you've got clear cut outs, then it may be worth a try. That usually
means MEA's above the freezing level, which was NOT the case in your
situation. It might also mean an a/c that you know can get above the
clouds; thin layers; etc.

But in the lee of the Great Lakes one year I picked up enough ice to drop
my IAS by about 30 kts. Those lakes are great ice-makers -- better than my
refrigerator! You'll do well to treat them with respect.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)