Icing Stories

Ice isn’t nice. And this time of year, it’s much easier to find when airborne in most places throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Thankfully, forecasting and reporting technologies have improved over the years to the point where, at least in our experience, it’s rare to find ice where it wasn’t in a forecast. At the same time, even piston singles can be equipped for flight in known icing conditions, albeit briefly. All that is to say icing shouldn’t be the problem it used to be. Unless, of course, you’re off your plan, or the forecasters blow it.

Key Takeaways:

• Icing conditions, both airborne and on the ground, can be unexpectedly encountered even with good pre-flight planning and improved forecasting.
• Pilots facing unexpected airborne icing must react immediately, communicate with ATC, and effectively utilize all available aircraft capabilities and escape maneuvers (e.g., altitude/heading changes) to exit hazardous conditions.
• Ground icing poses an unannounced risk, especially at less-equipped airports, demanding pilots recognize the severity and take appropriate action to ensure safety, even if it means halting operations and seeking assistance.

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