Hey all... just figured I'd try to gather some opinions on the feasiblity of a
cross-country flight (VA-WI-VA) this time of year. I'm primarily concerned with the
longevity of icing conditions. For those who fly in the area, how long would one expect to
get stuck for this problem in a typical light spam-can?

not-intending-to-start-another-icing-flamewar,
-Cory

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************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
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wrote in message >...
> Hey all... just figured I'd try to gather some opinions on the feasiblity of a
> cross-country flight (VA-WI-VA) this time of year. I'm primarily concerned with the
> longevity of icing conditions. For those who fly in the area, how long would one expect to
> get stuck for this problem in a typical light spam-can?

Not quite the same thing but we regularly fly MO-FL-MO at Xmas
and MO-MD-MO in spring and fall.

It's feasible. We allow 2 extra days, and we're prepared for
major strategic rerouting (ie sometimes it's better to fly
due W then shoot NE behind a weather system, or sometimes
it's better to fly due N then shoot W). So we carry extra
charts and plates (and major reason I don't find Aeroplanner
Tripticks too practical).

And of course, you takes your chances -- it hasn't happened
to us yet, but there certainly are wx systems which move in
and park for a week with low IFR and icing, not flyable IOO.

How much extra time you need to a certain extent depends on
your risk tolerance, of course.

Good luck,
Sydney

On 18 Dec 2003 05:32:20 -0800, (Snowbird)
wrote:

wrote in message >...
>> Hey all... just figured I'd try to gather some opinions on the feasiblity of a
>> cross-country flight (VA-WI-VA) this time of year. I'm primarily concerned with the
>> longevity of icing conditions. For those who fly in the area, how long would one expect to
>> get stuck for this problem in a typical light spam-can?
>
>Not quite the same thing but we regularly fly MO-FL-MO at Xmas
>and MO-MD-MO in spring and fall.
>
I think Snowbird has gotten most of it.
The only thing I'd add would be to pay attention to the weather
patterns to see which way they have been moving.

Although a good guide, that doesn't mean they won't turn around and go
the other way tomorrow.

This is the time of year where weather "up here in the Great Lakes
area" is quite often worse than forecast. Sometimes much worse.

Watch out for lake effect, or lake effect enhanced storms. What might
have been a half inch of snow can easily turn into a foot or more with
the help of the Great Lakes.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Return address modified due to dumb virus checkers
>It's feasible. We allow 2 extra days, and we're prepared for
>major strategic rerouting (ie sometimes it's better to fly
>due W then shoot NE behind a weather system, or sometimes
>it's better to fly due N then shoot W). So we carry extra
>charts and plates (and major reason I don't find Aeroplanner
>Tripticks too practical).
>
>And of course, you takes your chances -- it hasn't happened
>to us yet, but there certainly are wx systems which move in
>and park for a week with low IFR and icing, not flyable IOO.
>
>How much extra time you need to a certain extent depends on
>your risk tolerance, of course.
>
>Good luck,
>Sydney

wrote in message >...
> Hey all... just figured I'd try to gather some opinions on the feasiblity of a
> cross-country flight (VA-WI-VA) this time of year. I'm primarily concerned with the
> longevity of icing conditions. For those who fly in the area, how long would one expect to
> get stuck for this problem in a typical light spam-can?
>
> not-intending-to-start-another-icing-flamewar

Icing in the midwest can be a bear to wait out. You can easily wait
2-3 days for icing to clear out.

Last year - we flew Chicago to Naples and back. The way down was VMC,
but on the way home, we spent two nights in Chattanooga waiting for
freezing rain to turn into something better.

Trying again this year on the 28th. I'm sure it will be tailwinds and
VMC the entire trip :)

-Nathan

In article >, Nathan
Young > wrote:

> Last year - we flew Chicago to Naples and back. The way down was VMC,
> but on the way home, we spent two nights in Chattanooga waiting for
> freezing rain to turn into something better.

It sounds as though you got caught in the same system I did!
December 31st, 2002 ... Naples to Columbus OH. Made it to Mt Sterling
KY, 30 minutes from home. Spent two day in Mt Sterling, drove home the
second night, drove back the morning of the fourth day, flew home the
afternoon of the fourth day after the weather finally cleared out.

Thanks for the input. I decided to do it, and although I probably got
reasonably lucky with the weather, the trip was uneventful. It was cold with broken
overcast and icing airmet when I left, but got on top at 9000'. The trip back was MVFR
as I went lakeshore by Chicago (carefully avoiding the TFR). Climbed high in IMC out
of IN, but the warmfront kept freezing level above 9000'.

Yet another enjoyable use for the toy... :)

-Cory

--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

wrote in message >...
> Thanks for the input. I decided to do it, and although I probably got
> reasonably lucky with the weather, the trip was uneventful. It was cold with broken
> overcast and icing airmet when I left, but got on top at 9000'. The trip back was MVFR
> as I went lakeshore by Chicago (carefully avoiding the TFR). Climbed high in IMC out
> of IN, but the warmfront kept freezing level above 9000'.
>
> Yet another enjoyable use for the toy... :)

I got lucky with the weather on my Christmas vacation XC too. VFR the
entire way Chicago to Florida. IFR, but clear on top and high
freezing levels for most the ride home.

Gotta love it!

-Nathan