Icing Standards Upgraded
Manufacturers of U.S. transport category airplanes are being required to ensure that their aircraft can be operated safely in freezing drizzle or freezing rain — environments that produce “supercooled large drops (SLD)” — and in ice crystal conditions.
In a final rule issued in November, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that SLD, which is “less common than standard, small droplet icing,” can cause the formation of ice that “exceeds the capability of current ice protection systems.” A buildup of SLD can affect airplane handling characteristics.
Ice crystals, typically encountered while flying around thunderstorms, can accumulate on external air data sensors or in aircraft engines.
The FAA said that the rule, which applies to new aircraft cer…
