History has shown that numerous aircraft accidents have occurred due to contaminated critical surfaces from frost, ice or snow.
Aircraft performance degradation is wide-ranging and unpredictable.
Frozen contamination has two affects on aircraft by increasing the all-up-weight and reducing aircraft performance.
The significance of these conditions led to the "Clean Aircraft Concept."
The Clean Aircraft Concept is essential to the maintenance of flight safety and the PIC has the ultimate responsibility to determine if the aircraft is in a condition for safe flight.
Canadian and Foreign Operators in Canada may take-off with hoar frost on the fuselage if the following conditions are met:
Hoar-frost shall be the only acceptable contaminant on the fuselage only, of aircraft with engines mounted on the rear fuselage.
Prior to conducting a takeoff, the operator shall ensure that the hoar-frost is not mixed with other contaminants such as ice or snow. If any other contaminant or contaminants are on the fuselage, the operator shall deice the entire fuselage.
A copy of this exemption shall be attached to the Aircraft Deicing/Anti-icing Procedures in the Operator's Manual.
Aircraft may be permitted to take-off with hoar frost on the fuselage of rear mounted engines or when cold soaked ice exists on the underside of the wing, if approved in the aircraft manufacturers instructions.
It is everyone's responsibility to report contamination issues to the PIC immediately.
The removal of the contaminants prior to flight operations is accomplished through the application of a heated deicing fluid that melts the ice and removes it from the aircraft. In addition, an ice-preventive agent (anti-icing fluid) may be applied to critical surfaces prior to take-off, to prevent the accumulation of ice on critical surfaces.
