Aircraft icing is categorized into four distinct intensities—Trace, Light, Moderate, and Severe—each defined by its accumulation rate, the necessity of anti/de-icing equipment, and the level of associated danger.
Understanding these specific icing intensities is crucial for pilots to make informed decisions regarding flight operations, such as activating anti/de-icing systems or diverting, and for providing accurate pilot reports (PIREPs).
Proactive and timely action upon detecting any level of ice, even trace or light icing, is emphasized as essential for ensuring flight safety.
Understanding the four different intensities of icing allows for better decision making and better PIREPS.
Trace— Icing is barely perceptible and doesn’t require the use of anti/de-icing equipment for over an hour. On graphical PIREPs, the symbol for trace icing is a green ‘”U.”
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