Many myths persist about the capability of airplanes to fly in ice, appearing to support techniques for ice avoidance or landing an ice-laden airplane that make ice accumulation acceptable. “Speed saves.” “More power is better than ice protection.” “Known icing certification makes flying in ice safe.” Like any myth these are rooted in truth, but they are not necessarily true themselves. With apologies to the Discovery 288
Top Three Aircraft Icing Myths Busted
Many myths persist about the capability of airplanes to fly in ice, appearing to support techniques for ice avoidance or landing an ice-laden airplane that make ice accumulation acceptable. "Speed saves." "More power is better than ice protection." "Known icing certification makes flying in ice safe." Like any myth these are rooted in truth, but they are not necessarily true themselves. With apologies to the Discovery Channel I present these icing myths, busted. Heres our first in-flight icing myth: "Keep your speed up and you can land with a load of ice." Landing an ice-laden airplane can be tricky, even with clear approaches to the longest runway around. Performing a tight, circling approach at night in low visibility? We dont even want to think about it.
Key Takeaways:
- The myth that "speed saves" an ice-laden airplane is dangerous; ice severely degrades aerodynamics and significantly reduces visibility, making a safe landing extremely difficult or impossible.
- Relying on "more power" to overcome icing is flawed, as ice can reduce engine efficiency by blocking air inlets and diminish propeller and wing performance, rendering extra power ineffective in sustained or heavy icing.
- "Known icing" certification does not make an aircraft safe in all icing conditions, as it doesn't cover all types of ice (e.g., supercooled large droplets), and pilots must always have a pre-planned escape route to ice-free air.
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