Ice #flexvss

Ice is funny stuff.  In small cubes it can enhance the pleasure of a gin and tonic.  (Please note that tonic really should not constitute more than 30% of a decent G&T.  A slice of lime or lemon is good also)

When one is young, ice can provide endless amusement, ice skating springs to mind as does sliding in the school playground whilst ignoring the entreaties of the Headmaster.

Ice is not, however a good thing when transportation is involved.  Motor bikes are very badly affected as are cars, lorries and most especially aircraft.

The controllabilty of a motor vehicle depends mainly on the abilities of the driver, the pressure in the tyres (or 'tires' if you are 'Murcan, dear reader) and, with due diligence, journeys may be undertaken with a degree of safety.

Ice forming on the flying surfaces of an aircraft distorts and destroys the airfoil shape and renders the careful calculations of the designer chaps worthless. It is also very heavy.  Basically, if ice formation is neglected, the aircraft will fall down and break. If a takeoff is attempted under such conditions, there is a distinct possibility that becoming safely airborne may not be achieved.

To prevent this most unpleasant situation, aircraft are sprayed before departure from the gate with a de-icing fluid which drips annoyingly on the First Officer whilst he or she carries out the pre-flight walk round.  Being dripped on does not commonly affect Captains.  In extreme cases, if there is a long queue before takeoff further de-icing may be requested.  Had this extra de-icing been requested in January of 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 might not have crashed on Fourteenth Street bridge in Washington DC.

Ice formation in flight is a situation which is preferable to avoid.  Modern aircraft travel at an altitude where ice formation is quite unusual but as they attain cruising height, some icing conditions may be encountered and the aircraft systems are designed to prevent ice formation.  

This was not the case with aircraft of an earlier vintage.  Flying at heights sometimes as low as two thousand feet (610 metres if you, dear reader, are Russian) they would sometimes be unable to avoid the nasty conditions and be obliged to make very significant detours or even to turn tail and flee back to safety.

To sum up then, ice is brilliant when mixed with Tanqueray gin and Fever Tree tonic.  Otherwise it is a particularly unpleasant substance.