Singing The Icing Song, One More Time

摘要

When the legal debate over whether George Harrison stole the music to My Sweet Lord was raging, I was more likely to be listening to C is for Cookie. But I know the story and how, if it comes down to opinion, you're likely guilty unless blatantly innocent. Two years ago an overzealous FAA employee tried to define "known icing" to include sub-freezing temps and high humidity. This ridiculous concept was rescinded when AOPA cried foul. The fallout was that the FAA promised to create a real definition, something it had never done. During the comment period, yours truly (among others) asked the FAA to use the current AIM definition of known icing: 'Actual ice observed visually to be on the aircraft by the flight crew or identified by on-board sensors." My logic was that by not having a pilot in violation until he or she is actually picking up ice, you make avoiding certificate action and doing the right thing one and the same.