As you progress in both the complexity and performance of the aircraft flown, you will no doubt encounter weather.
Consider that 70% or more of our private pilot training, instrument rating, most endorsement for PPL is flying at 3,000 MSL or below. Most folks prefer to fly in VFR conditions and well below the flight levels. That's fine. But when you venture into the higher altitudes and encounter weather, there is no substitute for near real time information - namely PIREPS.
Yesterday morning was a perfect example. A short flight from KJQD to KLUK for a $100 hamburger. Filed IFR. No NOTAMS of concern, no TFR's; the only weather caution was a G-AIRMET for light to moderate icing. OK. Good to know.
Understanding the possibility of icing and the aircraft we were flying I briefed our options before launching and we departed. In and out of the clag at 7,000 feet we first picked of moisture just west of KSDF. No problem until my passenger/MEI rated pilot said, "Liquid precip on the windscreen".
To which I stupidly replied, "No worries. We expected this."
"At minus 8 Celsius?", he replied. (Note - liquid precipitation at 18 degrees F) "Uh oh." I replied.
When we exited the visible moisture a few seconds later the windscreen, wing roots, root fairing, top of the nacelles (we were in a twin), tip tanks, spinners, leading edges were covered in a noticeable layer of mixed ice.
Had the encounter lasted for a minute or two this could have been an operational issue. Much longer than that and we'd have had a real problem.
Encountering icing in and of itself is not remarkable. It happens all the time. Understanding the effects on the aircraft performance, avoidance, options and INFORMING others is paramount.
Time for a PIREP. SDF approach readily responded with a "go ahead"; we made the report and then heard our PIREP re-broadcast to a least 5 aircraft in the few moments until we were handed off the Cincinnati approach a few minutes later.
So I've included a few links for us to review for reporting PIREPS:
https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly ... ot-report/https://pilotworkshop.com/tips/giving-pireps/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e5UwlKnsgQhttps://www.cfinotebook.net/notebook/we ... ot-reports
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
