Icing Conditions Predictor
Assess potential aircraft icing conditions for flight planning.
Icing Temperature Ranges
| Temperature | Ice Type | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 0C to -10C | Clear Ice | Most Severe |
| -10C to -15C | Mixed Ice | Moderate-Severe |
| -15C to -20C | Rime Ice | Moderate |
| Below -20C | Light Rime | Light |
Understanding Aircraft Icing
Conditions Required for Icing
Aircraft icing requires: 1) Visible moisture (clouds, rain, drizzle), 2) Temperature at or below freezing, 3) Aircraft surface below freezing. The most severe icing occurs between 0C and -20C.
Types of Icing
- Clear Ice: Forms when large supercooled droplets freeze slowly. Heavy, hard to remove. Most dangerous.
- Rime Ice: Forms when small droplets freeze instantly. White, rough, easier to remove.
- Mixed Ice: Combination of clear and rime ice.
- Frost: Forms on cold-soaked aircraft. Must be removed before flight.
Freezing Rain/Drizzle
Supercooled Large Droplets (SLD) - including freezing rain and freezing drizzle - can cause rapid ice accumulation beyond the protected areas of the aircraft. This is a severe hazard requiring immediate exit from the conditions.
Effects on Aircraft
- Increased weight and drag
- Decreased lift and thrust
- Increased stall speed
- Control surface restriction
- Engine/propeller ice accumulation
- Pitot/static system blockage