Polishing frost
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:27 pm
Interesting conversation took place while at the usual Sunday morning fly-out breakfast. Polishing frost.
I was aware of the change in the regulations (I wouldn't admit otherwise) but hadn't really registered it in a brain cell that would activate at the correct time. That being as I was contemplating a departure but my wings frosted over.
You see the last time it frosted over and I had an airplane I could fly that is stored outside and subject to frost, was the fall/winter of 09. At that time it was perfectly fine to polish frost smooth that was found on your wings, propellor and other critical surfaces and instrument parts. My old 170 was damaged last December and I didn't have the current partnership till spring and frost were long gone.
But now I've got to deal with frost and since that magic day 1/1/10 frost can no longer be polished smooth. Here is the new 91.527.
I was aware of the change in the regulations (I wouldn't admit otherwise) but hadn't really registered it in a brain cell that would activate at the correct time. That being as I was contemplating a departure but my wings frosted over.
You see the last time it frosted over and I had an airplane I could fly that is stored outside and subject to frost, was the fall/winter of 09. At that time it was perfectly fine to polish frost smooth that was found on your wings, propellor and other critical surfaces and instrument parts. My old 170 was damaged last December and I didn't have the current partnership till spring and frost were long gone.
But now I've got to deal with frost and since that magic day 1/1/10 frost can no longer be polished smooth. Here is the new 91.527.
Code: Select all
[Title 14, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2010]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR91.527]
[Page 760]
TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(CONTINUED)
PART 91_GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES--Table of Contents
Subpart F_Large and Turbine-Powered Multiengine Airplanes and Fractional
Ownership Program Aircraft
Sec. 91.527 Operating in icing conditions.
(a) No pilot may take off an airplane that has frost, ice, or snow
adhering to any propeller, windshield, stabilizing or control surface;
to a powerplant installation; or to an airspeed, altimeter, rate of
climb, or flight attitude instrument system or wing, except that
takeoffs may be made with frost under the wing in the area of the fuel
tanks if authorized by the FAA.
(b) No pilot may fly under IFR into known or forecast light or
moderate icing conditions, or under VFR into known light or moderate
icing conditions, unless--
(1) The aircraft has functioning deicing or anti-icing equipment
protecting each rotor blade, propeller, windshield, wing, stabilizing or
control surface, and each airspeed, altimeter, rate of climb, or flight
attitude instrument system;
(2) The airplane has ice protection provisions that meet section 34
of Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 23; or
(3) The airplane meets transport category airplane type
certification provisions, including the requirements for certification
for flight in icing conditions.
* * * * *
And here is a link to more fascinating reading how this came to be. What I find most fascinating is the FAAs count of how many airplanes this effects in Alaska and the Mainland, "In Alaska, there are 21 operators with one aircraft apiece, and 30 operators operating the remaining 156 aircraft. In the mainland U.S., there are six operators operating 11 aircraft."
You now it is a good thing we all have to reregister our aircraft. Maybe the FAA will figure out there are must be a heck of a lot more aircraft operating part 91 and effected by this rule.
The next thought I had was maybe, specially in Alaska, this is the number of operators that would actually comply with this new regulation. 8O Yes sir I can just see it now. Joe Pilot out on that hunt in the middle of no where Alaska. He loads up his mighty Super Cub with the Elk he just shot and notices he's got a bit of frost on the wings. Darn it all he's grounded and no way to remove the frost. Hope he can walk out. Kids are going to be hungry.
Here is the a link that follows how this all happened:
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2008/05/08/E8-10246/removal-of-regulations-allowing-for-polished-frost-on-wings-of-airplanes
