Sat, Aug 20, 2011
Requires Installation Of Detection Equipment Or Flight Manual
Updates
The FAA has issued a new rule to enhance
aviation safety by requiring scheduled airlines to install ice
detection equipment in their existing fleets or to update their
flight manuals to make sure crews know when they should activate
their ice protection systems.
“We want pilots to have the best technology available to
detect icing conditions so they can take the steps necessary to
ensure passenger safety,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood.
“This rule incorporates the latest research on aircraft
icing,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Making
sure protection systems are turned on when icing conditions are
detected will help eliminate accidents that can occur if pilots
fail to turn on the ice protection soon enough.”
The new rule, published Friday, says that for aircraft equipped
with an ice-detection system, the new rule mandates that the system
alert the crew every time they need to activate ice protection. The
system can either automatically turn on the ice protection or
pilots can manually activate it. For aircraft without ice-detection
equipment, the crew must activate the protection system based on
cues listed in their airplane’s flight manual during climb
and descent, and at the first sign of icing when at cruising
altitude.
The rule applies only to in-service aircraft that weigh less
than 60,000 pounds because studies show smaller planes are more
affected by undetected icing or late activation of the ice
protection system. Larger commercial aircraft already have ice
detection equipment.
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