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Old 5th March 2007 | 13:50
  #27 (permalink)  
Ashling
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Over the Moon
When Boeing introduced its alleviation allowing you to get airborne with a small amount of frost on the upper wing I was very suspicious of the whole thing and refused to do it for a time while I tried to understand what was behind it. After all if you stall after take-off low down your not coming back, unless you have a rocket seat, as has been tragicaly proven many times.

Now I'm quite happy with it as it has all been tested, is well documented and trained for and can only be done in very specific circumstances. My company have never and will never put pressure on people not to de-ice and I have never heard of a decision to de-ice queried.

At the end of the day you have to know your type and the manufacturers recommendations for how to operate it and why, you also need to be totaly familiar with winter ops and if in doubt de-ice. If you still not happy do it again until you are happy or don't go its not an area to take chances with. Keep reviewing your decisions until you take-off so you know they remain valid and all will be well.

Anyone assuming snow will simply blow away is on their way to an early grave, get it brushed off then inspect it and proceed from there. I once had to do a 2 stage de-ice in these circumstances as the bottom layer of snow had compacted into some very nasty ice and that was in sub zero conditions without a refuel.
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