AIN Blog: FAA’s New Rule on Ice Bridging Is Not the Best It Could Be | Aviation International News

AIN Blog: FAA’s New Rule on Ice Bridging Is Not the Best It Could Be

The FAA has finally put a regulatory nail in the coffin of ice bridging with a new http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/PDFgate.cgi?WAISdocID=PKZ

By Matt Thurber

August 31, 2011

The FAA has finally put a regulatory nail in the coffin of ice bridging with a new rule requiring Part 121 airline pilots to activate deicing systems at the first indication of ice accumulation. Yet at the same time, the FAA has completely ignored a huge opportunity to improve safety for Part 91 and 135 operators that fly in icing conditions.

The new rule will become law on October 21 and apply only to Part 121 aircraft that weigh less than 60,000 pounds. The rule won’t apply to the heavier Bombardier Dash 8-Q400, one of which, operated by Colgan Air, stalled in flight following an autopilot level-off and subsequently crashed near Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 12, 2009. The aircraft had accumulated some ice during the approach.

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The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Matt Thurber

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