Army Aircraft Icing

Abstract : Icing is among aviation's most serious weather hazards because it renders aircraft unflyable before flight and severely reduces aircraft performance within flight. Army aviation is vulnerable to icing, which occurs most frequently at lower altitudes, and which generally has the greatest impact upon small fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters that fly slowly and low. Icing causes mission delays during ground deicing of aircraft and mission cancellations and abortions because of forecast or actual in-flight icing. The common notion, however, is that icing is "not a problem" for army aviators because they generally "do not fly in icing." This report assesses the effects of icing, both before and during flight, on the ability of any aviators to accomplish their mission. Interviews with aviation commands, surveys to aviation commands worldwide, and assessment of army aviation safety records demonstrate the affect of icing and snow on army aviation.