Icing
As someone who flies around the Pacific NW US, used to in singles, light twins, tprops, now jets, I think I can chime in on this one.
Without boring you with icing stories, another aviation tale, I will simply make some points.
- Judging the amount of ice in inches, has always been a kinda joke, a best guess.
- Ice affects by decreasing lift and increasing drag, a double whamjy.
- As a wing accumulates ice, you become a test pilot to as far as what you can carry safely to the ground.
- Recent NASA studies, which I think are a joke, direct the pilot to working the boots every time he sees ice, based on new boot technology, not taking into account that if your really flying in this stuff at say 12k feet, your probably flying an old 70-80s aircraft, old tech, old boots. While they did expand on tail plane icing, there is not alot a pilot can do about it. I've moved passenger out of the back and over the wing, to get another 500ft/m because of tail plane icing, its serious, and do that was the difference between going home, or getting over some hills.
Tips:
Keep your speed up, ice can't stick if your moving fast
Keep the boots clean and working
Spray with table polish, ICG, WD40 before each flight, it works
Get out of ice ASAP, but 180 turns are stupid
Watch your temp guage and fly where it's either to warm or too cold, and stay out of the buildups, tops, and windward side of mtns due to upslope icing, get above them first if possible
Bring some 02 to get to that 15-16k alt to get above the freezing level if only for a while.
Watch your AS ind. If you have ice, and lose 20 kts max on cruise, it will be worse with reduced power on landing, think about making a change.
Wait untill you have an inch before using the boots.
Land fast, like 30kts fast, on landing if you are carrying like two inches of ice, if your heavy, it might be worse.
If your flying a Tprop or jet, this is almost all moot, so consider getitng a better job in better equip.
The good thing about all this, is flying around in light twins in real icing is a great education, in singles more so.
I hope this helped.
SSG