Michael wrote:

No - it could save you an emergency. You can be flying over the top,
doing fine - and then the tops rise faster than you can climb. If
your ice avoidance strategy is staying on top, and you can't manage AT
LEAST a solid 500 fpm climb to outclimb rising clouds, you don't have
much of a strategy. BTDT.

Cloud tops don't generally rise at 500 fpm, except maybe in an unusually
powerful developing CB (if even then), and you cannot top that without a
turbine engine and pressurized cabin anyway -- the clouds only seem to rise
because you're moving forward; turn around and they're not rising any more.
That's a diversion, not an emergency, unless you're cutting it close on fuel.

You may not have that option - if it's below the MIA, you would need
to shoot an approach. Having extra horsepower makes a big difference
there too - it gives you time to get down in a controlled manner.

If the bases are above the MIA, why risk the ice at all? Just go VFR.

Yes, there are situation where the bases are above MIA where you are,
but you need to climb to get where you are going. Now we're back to
dealing with mountains, and see above about clouds climbing up to get
you.

Not just mountains -- even big hills can cause trouble with a 3,000 ft
ceiling. There's also the issue of IMC along the route, like the
lake-effect muck that usually sits over Watertown and Syracuse.


All the best,


David