PI-135 OPERATOR’S MANUAL
106
weight, alteration of airfoil shape and disruption of airfl ow
to name just a few, can often yield unpredictable fl ight
characteristics at best. At worst, these elements can
conspire to become catastrophic.
Like most things in life, preparation is probably the most
important part of success. Aviation is no dif fer ent. Proper
training, pre-fl ight planning (you did check the icing
forecasts and PIREPs right?) and overall fore thought
are your best course for a successful, non-event ful trip.
Preparation also refers to the act of being pre pared for
something that may occur during a fl ight. This is where
“staying ahead of the airplane” comes in. As Rod Machado
says, “the two most important things in aviation are the
next two.” If conditions are ripe for icing then be on alert for
subtle performance changes and/or indications that may
be symptomatic of icing.
The goal of any simulation is to sharpen your “sit u a tion al”
awareness. This is not only geographic (po si tion al)
awareness but “how are things going” aware ness.
ELITE’s intent is not to prepare you for how to exactly
react to an icing “encounter” (that is best learned from the
POH, aircraft manufacturer, & experience) but rather to
enhance your ability to recognize that “some thing is not
quite right” feeling and thus get you thinking. Your ability
to properly analyze and suc cess ful ly resolve a problem
is greatly improved by quick recognition in the fi rst place.
Time and altitude are pre cious. In other words, don’t be
caught cruising along “fat, dumb, and happy.” With a
good scan, and knowl edge of what indications should be
normal/abnormal, the deg ra da tion of aircraft performance
associated with icing should be readily apparent. Always
stay ahead of the airplane and maintain a constant self-
dialogue. If you notice an abnormality or something doesn’t
feel quite right then try and maintain focus.
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