A Pilot's Guide to Inflight Icing
Module I - Before You Fly
Check the Weather
Section: Temperatures Aloft
Start This SectionTemperatures Aloft Check the Weather
Step 5. Check the winds/temperatures aloft.
By this point in the planning process you should have a good idea of where to expect icing, have a tentative flight plan that minimizes your icing exposure, and have some idea of how you could exit from icing conditions should that become necessary.
While you are checking the winds aloft to find an altitude that provides an acceptable fuel burn and time en route, examine the temperatures aloft. The winds/temperatures aloft table presents forecast temperatures that you can use to help generate your icing exit strategy.
Sample winds and temperatures aloft text table data
Temperatures Aloft Check the Weather
Since in-flight icing is most likely to occur between +2C and -20C, you will generally want to know at which altitudes you will find air temperatures that are outside this range. You can use this information to plan the flight to limit your exposure to icing conditions and build an exit strategy for every point along your route. Remember to take into account the MEAs along your route. In some cases, you will not be able to safely descend to exit from icing conditions. Also remember that you may need to recalculate your fuel burn and range should you change altitude.
Winds aloft graphical display