As spring in the Northern Hemisphere tries to poke through the ice and snow winter is leaving behind, it’s tempting to think the calendar alone eliminates the threat of airframe icing. The fact is we can find icing in any season; we just need an airplane that can climb high enough to get us in freezing temperatures during the summer months. Depending on where your operations may take you, airframe icing can be a reality 12 months out of the year, or only a handful. If you’re lucky enough to be flying something approved for flight in known icing, you may not worry too much about it. The rest of us do, and actively look for ways to avoid the cold, hard, heavy stuff when it’s likely to be a factor.
