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Freezing Rain

Asked by: 2377 views Instrument Rating, Student Pilot, Weather

I am currently working on my Instrument rating at my university. Our oral exam guide asks to be prepared to make decision on how to get out of known icing conditions, which I have answered with climbing, descending, 180 degree turn, or landing as soon as practicable. However, the very next question asks what actions you should take if you encounter freezing rain. Would the answers be the same? please help, thanks.

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1 Answers



  1. MarkO on Jul 14, 2018

    Freezing rain is especially dangerous in an airplane not certified for flight in those conditions. Ice accumulation can be very rapid, and clear ice is particularly hazardous. The reason the rain is freezing is because you are in a freezing layer of air with a larger, warmer layer of air above. If you can climb into the warmer layer (not freezing), you stand a good chance of exiting the conditions and continuing flight. If you cannot, you are in a “land as soon as possible” type of emergency.

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