Originally Posted by Droopystop
The aircraft I fly is "cleared for flight in light icing conditions". Attached to this are various items of equipment that must be fitted and working. Included in this list of items is an ice detector. The definition of light icing is based on the rate at which ice accretes on the detector. In other words the icing clearance is type specific and is no doubt determined after extensive trials. Moreover, there are operational procedures that are applied during flight planning that allow one to escape from icing conditions beyond the capability of the aircraft.
So if you find yourself in icing conditions that exceed the definition of
light according to the accretion rate on the detector, have you violated an operating limitation of the aircraft and rendered yourself liable to prosecution?