Predicting In-Flight Aircraft Icing Intensity

An in-flight icing intensity index is derived based on the time to accrete afixed amount of ice at the stagnation point of an airfoil during flight. The index can be defined in terms of threshold liquid water contents, which can be calculated for a variety of airfoils at typical flight configurations. The thresholds depend on drop diameter. The index is compared with previous versions and interpreted in terms of in situ cloud liquid water and drop diameter measurements. Practical applications for detection and forecasting of icing conditionsare discussed, and limitations of such an intensity index as a representation of icing severity are addressed.