Icing and It's Effects on Aviation

     There are many factor's that can affect the ability to flight, and none are more prominent than weather. There are many different weather phenomenon that can cause pilot's difficulty and even stop flight operations completely. The type of weather I will be discussing in this entry is icing and how it affects aircraft's flight capability.

     Icing can cause many in flight complications including increased drag, decreased lift and thrust, and increased weight due to the buildup of ice reshaping the cambers on the aircraft. An excess amount of ice can also cause malfunctions in navigation instruments including the altimeter, gyroscopic functions, and even radio antennas. When dealing with Flight operations there are three main types of icing that effect aircraft in the air. These types of icing are Clear Icing, Rime Icing, and Mixed Icing. Clear Icing is sometimes considered the most dangerous types of icing due the heavier weight and solid structure, which is harder for de-icing equipment to manage. It has the most effect on weight, lift, and drag on the aircraft and has been reported to increase drag as much as 300-500%. (Weather.gov, n.d.) Rime Icing is a more rough formed ice, that has more air pockets between each layer. Due to this Rime Icing is nowhere near as a weight issue to aircraft, but the shape of the ice can cause negative aerodynamic functions to the aircraft. Mixed Icing takes the negative attributes from both, having irregular shape and increased weight from the clear layers. This is the most difficult icing to remove from aircraft.

    The intensity of icing can be measured in four different categories: Trace, Light, Moderate, and Severe. Trace, being the lowest intensity is not a significant amount of icing and does not affect the aircraft in any way. Light Icing is a significant amount if flown in for more than one hour and can be handled with occasional anti-Icing equipment. (Arbogast, 2018) Moderate Icing is a significant amounts of icing in a short amount of time and can cause issues, requiring anti-icing equipment of flight diversions. Severe Icing is a rapid, dangerous accumulation of ice on the aircraft that anti-icing equipment cannot handle and diversion of flight is required.

    Though Icing can cause serious complications to flight in severe circumstances, the use of anti-icing and deicing equipment can help combat these hazards and make prolonged flight in icing conditions possible. Some methods of anti-icing and de-icing include fluids that cover the leading edges of propellers and wings to lower the likelihood of ice sticking. Rubber Boots that can ease the removal of ice. Heating devices are also used for anti-icing, by diverting heat generated by the engines to other parts of the aircraft through a system of tubes to prevent icing. By using this equipment and knowing the danger and effects of icing, any negative effects can be handled effectively to ensure a safe flight for everyone involved.

References

Arbogast, S. (2018, October 01). Aircraft Icing and How It Affects Your Flight. Retrieved October 11, 2020, from https://www.universalweather.com/blog/aircraft-icing-and-how-it-affects-your-flight/

Weather.gov. (n.d.). Icing. Retrieved October 11, 2020, from https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/icing_stuff/icing/icing.htm