Dont Mess with IceI enjoyed the Me Too letter by Harry Dill in the July issue. I think we tend to forget that moderate ice is not like moderate turbulence. It is right below severe. Also, we all talk about how unpredictable ice is, so having forecast or PIREPed moderate ice turn into severe is common. Oh, and really bad. Harry gave good consideration to clouds and icing, and he made it out okay. However, I would not mess with moderate ice at all. Stick with trace and light, and maybe the worst youll see is moderate. Harry can stop at our place in Maryland for a crab cake and wait for better weather on his way up coast from North Carolina.
Pilots are strongly cautioned against "moderate" ice, as it is unpredictable and can rapidly escalate to severe, making it safer to only operate in trace or light icing conditions.
Discussion on in-flight weather systems highlights varied preferences for satellite (XM/SiriusXM) versus ADS-B (FIS-B), balancing factors like NEXRAD resolution, update frequency, ground access, cost, and the integration of panel-mounted versus portable solutions.
Always filing IFR, regardless of weather, is advocated to provide pilots with continuous practice, familiarity with the system, and reduced workload when actual Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) are encountered.
For Part 91 operations, while ceiling minimums are advisory, pilots must still adhere to and accurately determine the required *flight visibility* per FAR 91.175(c)(2) for landing, often by using knowledge of approach lighting systems.
I enjoyed the “Me Too” letter by Harry Dill in the July issue.
I think we tend to forget that “moderate” ice is not like “moderate” turbulence. It is right below “severe.” Also, we all talk about how unpredictable ice is, so having forecast or PIREPed moderate ice turn into severe is common. Oh, and really bad.
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