RPX

  • Careers
  • DynaVibe Classic
  • DynaVibe GX
    • DynaVibe GX - Prop Balancing
    • Turbine Sensor
    • Strobex Adapter
  • DynaTrack
  • DryBot
  • Support
  • Store
    • Fixed Wing Store
    • Rotorcraft Store
    • Turbine Store
    • Strobex Adapter Store
    • Accessory Store
    • Engine Dehydrator
  • Calibration
  • Careers
  • DynaVibe Classic
  • DynaVibe GX
    • DynaVibe GX - Prop Balancing
    • Turbine Sensor
    • Strobex Adapter
  • DynaTrack
  • DryBot
  • Support
  • Store
    • Fixed Wing Store
    • Rotorcraft Store
    • Turbine Store
    • Strobex Adapter Store
    • Accessory Store
    • Engine Dehydrator
  • Calibration

ICE?

12/30/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Let's go fly!  ...maybe not.

The current METAR made me think twice:
KSWO 302253Z 03008KT 10SM BKN024 OVC030 M07/M13 A3033

Below freezing. Low clouds.  Should I worry about the aircraft accumulating ice?  I've read [1,2] that most aircraft icing occurs when air temperatures are between 0 °C and -20 °C and I wondered how difficult it would be to verify that claim.  Here's what I found.

First, I downloaded several hundred PIREPS from aviationweather.gov.  Then I filtered the PIREPS for those that reported ice along with the atmospheric temperature. 

For example, here the pilot is reporting rime ice with an atmospheric temperature of -13 °C: 
TYS UA /OV TYS/TM 1331/FL130/TP E145/TA M13/IC MOD RIME ICE/RM ICING STARTING AT 130 AND ENDING AT 115

Next, I constructed a histogram of the atmospheric temperatures with reported ice, and here is the result.  
Picture
What is amazing is that this plot is comprised of just 29 pilot reports and it agrees perfectly with the original premise that aircraft structural icing occurs most often between 0 °C and -20 °C.  That's good information to know before poking your head into cold clouds.

​

References:
1. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/lmk/Brian%20S/LMK_Icing_Show.pdf
2. https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?cID=33&sID=152&preview=true
​

Comments

    Categories

    All
    Aviation Safety
    Business Bits
    Engine Care
    Non-Aviation Uses
    Propeller Balancing
    Track And Balance
    UAVs
    User Stories
    Vibration Analysis

    RSS Feed

    CALIBRATION
QUESTIONS?
+1.833.268.7653 
​​
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
Picture
Picture
Picture
Fixed Wing
DynaVibe Classic
DynaVibe GX3
Fixed Wing Store
​DryBot Engine Dehydrator
Rotorcraft
DynaVibe GX3
​DynaTrack
​Strobex Adapter
​Rotorcraft Store
Turbine
Vibration Surveys
​Turbine Store
Support
Warranty
Product Updates
FAQ's
​Contact
What we're up to
Blog
​Facebook
​Instagram
Testimonials
Picture
AVIATION   •   CONSTRUCTION   •   ENGINEERING SERVICES   •   FIRST RESPONSE   •   UNMANNED
RPX Technologies, Inc.
​3523 North Star Dr., Stillwater, OK 74075
​+1.833.268.7653
Copyright © 2024