We will continue to debate this til the cows come home. There will be no resolution until there is something in writing from both the manufacturer and the regulator that clearly states a policy.
For instance, unless the manual states "approved for flight in icing", would you launch into an area of forecast icing on the premise that it would be possible to see and avoid icing conditions, i.e. mk 1 eyeball style.
I was once faced with a dilemma that that set "legal" against common sense.
Location: tropical island
Temp 32C
Weather:3/8 Cu/SC
1 Pitot heat failed, spares 24 hrs away.
Sector: 50nm, not above 6,000'
Freezing lvl:15,000'
Mel: Pitot heat, No. fitted 2, No. reqd 2
I was a new Capt. raring to go, but as my C.P said, if you blew a tyre you would get nailed for the MEL infraction even if it had nothing to do with it.
