Icing conditions: Operating limitations

In plain English

You may not take off or fly into known or forecast icing unless the aircraft is certificated and equipped for it, and ice must be removed from critical surfaces before takeoff. Operating in icing beyond the aircraft’s capability is prohibited.

Key points

• No flight into known/forecast icing unless certified and equipped (FIKI).
• Clean-aircraft concept: no frost/ice/snow on wings, control surfaces, props before takeoff.
• Plan an escape from unexpected icing.

Common pitfalls

• Departing with frost on the wings, or pressing into icing in a non-FIKI aircraft.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and your operator’s ops specs.*