Good stuff here. I picked up some un-forecasted ice on decent to an ILS approach a few weeks ago. It was my first experience with ice and I was surprised at how quickly my windshield iced over with a thin layer. Literally I was on top and as soon as we went into the could layer i instantly had a thin layer of ice over the airplane. Pitot heat and carb heat was already on, cranked up the defrost and increased my decent to punch through quickly. I was only in it for maybe 60 seconds but that was enough to give me a whole new respect for just how quickly ice can accumulate.
Thanks. Just passed my IR thanks to your videos now the idea of hitting icing makes me pretty nervous. Its the sort of thing I want to experience so i know how to deal with it but without experiencing it.
Good video. I often fly IFR but avoid icing situations like the plague. I always stay familiar with freezing levels, layers, pireps, etc. I was going to buy a plane with a TKS system, but thought that might make me a bit too bold. There’s nowhere I need to get to that can’t wait.
I just did this in Xplane last night….. approach was terminated with an abrupt and unplanned encounter with off airport terrain. What i noticed ahead of time was decreased manifold pressure in addition to increased angle of attack.
awesome knowledge! one thing I always wonder about.. if in IMC, and noticed I'm getting ice quick (i.e. freezing rain), and no deicing equipment - how soon can I start making changes, considering I report the emergency to the ATC? Is it immediately, without waiting for their confirmation, or do I need to wait for them to come back to me?
14 CFR §91.3 (b) In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency. 14 CFR §91.123 (c) Each pilot in command who, in an emergency, or in response to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory, deviates from an ATC clearance or instruction shall notify ATC of that deviation as soon as possible. 14 CFR §91.123 (d) Each pilot in command who (though not deviating from a rule of this subpart) is given priority by ATC in an emergency, shall submit a detailed report of that emergency within 48 hours to the manager of that ATC facility, if requested by ATC. 14 CFR §91.527 Operating in icing conditions -- large and turbine (d) If current weather reports and briefing information relied upon by the pilot in command indicate that the forecast icing conditions that would otherwise prohibit the flight will not be encountered during the flight because of changed weather conditions since the forecast, the restrictions in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section based on forecast conditions do not apply.
Agreed. Now, if you are flying IFR, and there is other traffic around, smashing into another plane may be worse than staying a few more minutes in mild ice conditions. But, if it’s just a very tiny bit of rime ice inform them of the need to change altitude. If more than that, declare an emergency and get out of there. Anyone else in IFR conditions will be on the same frequency no doubt and will keep out of your way.
Ice can accumulate at an unbelievable rate. Most of the time it’s manageable, I have a twin turbine aircraft with deicing and anti icing capability. I do exhaustive investigation into icing forecast when flying in weather that promotes icing. I talked to a friend who flies a 737, he said one day, even with their capacity to deal with it, icing was overcoming the aircraft’s systems. I use the systems on my ac to escape ice,, not to stay in it.
If there's no moisture in the air then there's nothing to freeze. Perhaps if it was suuuuper humid, but I'm not sure that would even be enough honestly
Making the airplane “heavier” is a bit of a silly way to think about icing. Is it technically true? Yes. Functionally it’s so negligible. If you throw a couple bags of ice in the back seat of your plane before you took off, is it really going cause the plane to fall out of the sky? Severe icing will really will never add more than 20-30 pounds of ice on a small GA aircraft
Maybe you're just reading into it too much. Nobody ever claimed the plane will fall out of the sky because of the weight, but it can exaggerate all of the other effects the four forces that are already suffering from icing.
There is a lot of surface area on a small plane (wax one and find out) There are conditions where a lot more than 30lbs+ could happen really quick. In planes with de-ice boots, the amount of ice in the areas not covered by the boots makes a giant mess in a heated hangar when it melts. While the the destruction of the airfoil and added drag are the main story, the weight is like handing a struggling swimmer a brick. Check out the NASA Icing course, it is fascinating.
Good stuff here. I picked up some un-forecasted ice on decent to an ILS approach a few weeks ago. It was my first experience with ice and I was surprised at how quickly my windshield iced over with a thin layer. Literally I was on top and as soon as we went into the could layer i instantly had a thin layer of ice over the airplane. Pitot heat and carb heat was already on, cranked up the defrost and increased my decent to punch through quickly. I was only in it for maybe 60 seconds but that was enough to give me a whole new respect for just how quickly ice can accumulate.
If you got freezing temperatures and visible moisture, you’ll get ice, it doesn’t have to be forecast!
You're saving lives with this stuff, man. Great work!
I used to fly the fedex caravans and I learned all about icing. We'd use TKS equipped caravans but it was essential to wet the wing before entering.
Thanks. Just passed my IR thanks to your videos now the idea of hitting icing makes me pretty nervous. Its the sort of thing I want to experience so i know how to deal with it but without experiencing it.
As a new pilot I very much appreciate the helpful hints to understand the new Av Weather website. Keep it up.. Thanks
You’re the goat man! Love the videos
Here in Michigan -- if it's after Labor Day and before Memorial Day, expect icing.
Facts!
Good video. I often fly IFR but avoid icing situations like the plague. I always stay familiar with freezing levels, layers, pireps, etc. I was going to buy a plane with a TKS system, but thought that might make me a bit too bold. There’s nowhere I need to get to that can’t wait.
I just did this in Xplane last night….. approach was terminated with an abrupt and unplanned encounter with off airport terrain. What i noticed ahead of time was decreased manifold pressure in addition to increased angle of attack.
Thanks for the lesson. It is very helpful. I have learned a lot.
Really good info! I would like... but there's 747 likes. I can't ruin that.
If you fly close the ocean level, doesn't the salty air get the ice off?
awesome knowledge!
one thing I always wonder about.. if in IMC, and noticed I'm getting ice quick (i.e. freezing rain), and no deicing equipment - how soon can I start making changes, considering I report the emergency to the ATC? Is it immediately, without waiting for their confirmation, or do I need to wait for them to come back to me?
14 CFR §91.3 (b) In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency.
14 CFR §91.123 (c) Each pilot in command who, in an emergency, or in response to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory, deviates from an ATC clearance or instruction shall notify ATC of that deviation as soon as possible.
14 CFR §91.123 (d) Each pilot in command who (though not deviating from a rule of this subpart) is given priority by ATC in an emergency, shall submit a detailed report of that emergency within 48 hours to the manager of that ATC facility, if requested by ATC.
14 CFR §91.527 Operating in icing conditions -- large and turbine (d) If current weather reports and briefing information relied upon by the pilot in command indicate that the forecast icing conditions that would otherwise prohibit the flight will not be encountered during the flight because of changed weather conditions since the forecast, the restrictions in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section based on forecast conditions do not apply.
Agreed. Now, if you are flying IFR, and there is other traffic around, smashing into another plane may be worse than staying a few more minutes in mild ice conditions. But, if it’s just a very tiny bit of rime ice inform them of the need to change altitude. If more than that, declare an emergency and get out of there. Anyone else in IFR conditions will be on the same frequency no doubt and will keep out of your way.
How long does it take for ice to accumulate? Does it happen pretty quickly once you enter a cloud or does it take some time for buildup to happen?
Ice can accumulate at an unbelievable rate. Most of the time it’s manageable, I have a twin turbine aircraft with deicing and anti icing capability. I do exhaustive investigation into icing forecast when flying in weather that promotes icing. I talked to a friend who flies a 737, he said one day, even with their capacity to deal with it, icing was overcoming the aircraft’s systems. I use the systems on my ac to escape ice,, not to stay in it.
what if no clouds but just bone cold?
If there's no moisture in the air then there's nothing to freeze. Perhaps if it was suuuuper humid, but I'm not sure that would even be enough honestly
Why was this reuploaded
Thought i was tripping, glad you mentioned it
I prefer ice in my glass, not on my wings 👍.
Making the airplane “heavier” is a bit of a silly way to think about icing. Is it technically true? Yes. Functionally it’s so negligible. If you throw a couple bags of ice in the back seat of your plane before you took off, is it really going cause the plane to fall out of the sky? Severe icing will really will never add more than 20-30 pounds of ice on a small GA aircraft
Maybe you're just reading into it too much. Nobody ever claimed the plane will fall out of the sky because of the weight, but it can exaggerate all of the other effects the four forces that are already suffering from icing.
There is a lot of surface area on a small plane (wax one and find out) There are conditions where a lot more than 30lbs+ could happen really quick. In planes with de-ice boots, the amount of ice in the areas not covered by the boots makes a giant mess in a heated hangar when it melts. While the the destruction of the airfoil and added drag are the main story, the weight is like handing a struggling swimmer a brick. Check out the NASA Icing course, it is fascinating.