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Old 2nd Feb 2010, 00:10
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s1lverback
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Snow versus Ice

Nope.

There are two kinds of aircraft when it comes to icing - those approved for flight into known icing conditions and those that are not.

Know icing conditions generally refer to the probability or certainty of freezing rain (supercooled droplets that freeze on impact with the object they encounter) given that the temperature on the ground is at or below zero and so temperatures aloft will tend to drop as you climb.

Snow is not frozen rain. Snowflakes are created inside clouds by tiny ice crystals colliding and sticking together. Most snowflakes melt on their way to the ground and fall as rain. Only when the air near the ground is cold enough will snowflakes fall as snow.

From CAA SRG http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/fod200842.pdf

6.3 Flight in Snow or Icing Conditions

6.3.1 Clearance for a helicopter to fly in icing conditions is based on a type specific certification. The number of helicopter types approved to fly in icing conditions is very small although an additional number of other types have been given a ‘limited’ icing approval. These types are almost all exclusively used in the offshore oil and gas industry where the over-water aspect of the operation provides an escape from icing conditions. Helicopter operations in the onshore environment are almost exclusively based on the precept of avoidance of flight in icing conditions.

6.3.2 Precautions should be taken to avoid encountering icing, a number of which are as follows:
• Obtain a thorough meteorological briefing, especially when temperatures are expected to be near to or below freezing.
• If icing is suspected from either visual or other signs (e.g. vibration, abnormally high power requirements or engine temperatures) action should be taken to vacate the suspected conditions by transitioning to a warmer area,.
• Flight in freezing rain is prohibited.
6.3.3 Flight in falling snow or sleet may be approved but only as specified in the Flight Manual Limitations Section. Such Limitations may require a particular helicopter configuration such as the installation of engine intake snow protection devices. If the helicopter is not in the relevant configuration, flight in the specified condition is not permitted.

I too have flown in snow, caught in Blizzard between NY and Lancaster (PA) - we diverted (dropping viz and light) and set down without issue at Pottstown.

Known icing conditions is another matter - to be avoided for most of us (GA) in choppers.
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