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:

• Despite improved forecasting and aircraft equipment, unexpected icing conditions (both airborne and on the ground) remain a significant aviation hazard.
• Pilots encountering unexpected in-flight icing should react immediately by communicating with ATC, declaring an emergency, and using all available tools and maneuvers to exit the conditions.
• Even aircraft equipped for known icing can be overwhelmed by severe conditions, highlighting that such systems are for escape rather than prolonged flight in icing.
• Ground conditions at airports, particularly less-equipped facilities, can present unexpected and unreported ice hazards requiring extreme pilot vigilance upon landing.

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