Posted for Kevin Kossi <kevin@airforcemechanical.com>:

 This makes the de-ice even more appealing.
 
 Known icing conditions: FAA's slippery slope?
 
 A new interpretation of what "known icing conditions" really means  could
ground general aviation aircraft for the winter. But AOPA is  not going to let
that happen.
 
 The new interpretation, handed down from the FAA's Eastern Region  counsel,
says that "high relative humidity" constitutes known icing  conditions. This
means that in high relative humidity conditions when  the temperature is near
or below freezing, pilots must fly an  aircraft with deicing equipment. Many
light GA aircraft aren't  equipped for flight into known icing conditions.
 
 "This overly restrictive interpretation of 'known icing conditions,'  if
literally applied, would unnecessarily ground many safe general  aviation
flights and may negatively affect safety because many pilots  would not be
able to train nor maintain flying proficiency during the  winter season,"
wrote Luis Gutierrez, AOPA director of regulatory and  certification policy,
in a letter to the FAA. He requested that the  FAA Eastern Region's letter of
interpretation be rescinded.
 
 AOPA pointed out that this restrictive interpretation is not  consistent with
other FAA publications, including the Aeronautical  Information Manual, which
state that visible moisture, along with  freezing temperatures, is necessary
for structural icing in flight.  High relative humidity is not visible.
 
 The association further explained that relative humidity is not  included in
FAA or National Weather Service aviation weather reports  or forecasts.
 
 "So how are pilots to know when high relative humidity would be a  factor to
their flight," Gutierrez challenged the FAA, "and how are  pilots expected to
know what constitutes high relative humidity since  this is not defined
anywhere?"
 
 The FAA's previous definition of known icing conditions was  objective,
quantified, and based on meteorology, Gutierrez explained.  AOPA believes this
new definition — which could shut down an entire  segment of the GA industry —
is subjective, is not scientifically  proven, and should not be accepted.
 
 
 
 Kevin Kossi
 Legacy 73%
 New York