Takeoff into moderate to severe icing?

[GopherEvertt?]

On the atis at a major northeast airport recently: "...moderate to severe icing reported during approach by a Beech 1900..." The weather was nasty with heavy winds, blowing snow, 3/4 mile vis.

Now with all of this, you still had a constant stream of departures and arrivals. Everything from props to wide bodies. Just how legal is this to take off into these conditions? I thought that flight into severe ice is prohibited. Am I missing something? Fortunately for us, we were stranded with a broke airplane and didn't get off the ground.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

I'd maybe blast off in moderate if couple of other conditions worked out (tops, etc). But no way in he!! would I takeoff into known severe icing...

 

[avbug]

Technicalities notwithstanding, severe icing is truly defined by the inability of a particular anti ice or deice system to prevent or remove it.

If one is entering conditions that exceed the capability of the aircraft, legal or not, one is far outside one's depth.

What is legal is not necessarily safe, and what is safe is not necessarily legal. What is not safe is stupid.

Sadly, all too often, stupidity rules.

 

[apcooper]

Not to hijack this thread too much but..........

I was curious as to whether or not a heavy jet (767,777,etc) could handle severe ice, FZRA, FZDZ, etc for an extended period of maybe 20 min? Since all these planes have hot wings and many other redundant anti/de-ice systems it seems realistic. Obviously, the ATR that went down in Roselawn,IN 10 yrs ago couldn't but maybe it it had been a jet instead it would have been a different story. Any thoughts?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I was curious as to whether or not a heavy jet (767,777,etc) could handle severe ice, FZRA, FZDZ, etc for an extended period of maybe 20 min? Since all these planes have hot wings and many other redundant anti/de-ice systems it seems realistic. Obviously, the ATR that went down in Roselawn,IN 10 yrs ago couldn't but maybe it it had been a jet instead it would have been a different story. Any thoughts?

severe icing means your equip quite possibly IS NOT going to keep up - regardless if you are in a Baron or a 777. No way to tell until you are in it - and I say "no thanks" to testing that out. Just because you are in a jet does not mean you will keep all the ice off. Have I ever had this problem? no, and I bet 99.9% of us never will - but its still a risk at that - and we are all about minimizing risks, right?

Now....if it means spending the night in Newark instead.....well...put em' forward Jack cuz were getting the F outta here!

(kiddding)

 

[minitour]

severe icing means your equip quite possibly IS NOT going to keep up

Which leads me to believe that the severity is "in the eye of the beholder"

For example, I go up in a 172...anything is severe where as a 421 that might just be "trace", correct?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

sure. Its all up to interpretation. For example - the LLWS reported by the C310 +/- 15kts really might not get too much attention...reports of +/- 30 from a 767...you bet.

Was the guy in the B1900 who reported "severe icing" just a dorky over-excited fellow from Gulfpuke Airlines down in FL who was riding through his first season with a real airline up North?? maybe....maybe not....

I for one, have never cx'd a flight for "possible" severe icing (how its usually forecast). Freezing rain on the surface - yes...but not icing reported airborne. But I bet I would of I was in a Baron or something...even in a jet, I might ask about tops and re-check the departure to see how long Im going to be screwing around in it...I would also consider the possibility of having to shoot an emergency approach back INTO that $hit.

I appreciate pireps - it gets your attention - it gets you thinking of alternatives...but in reality...99.9999% of the time we still go - with care.