FAA Floats Icing Certification Change

Proposed changes to FAR Parts 25 and 33 address dangerous icing conditions caused by supercooled large drops, including a requirement that manufacturers not only show that airplanes can operate safely in those conditions but also with specific performance and handling qualities. Changes would add new icing certification standards for engines and engine installations and components such
as angle-of-attack and airspeed-indicating systems. This rulemaking would finally close a significant gap between Part 23 and 25 icing certification standards, the former having stricter icing certification requirements. Comments are due by August 30 (search for docket FAA-2010-0636 at www.regulations.gov).