Clear Ice
What is clear ice?
Clear ice is a glossy, transparent ice that forms when supercooled water droplets freeze relatively slowly upon striking the aircraft. Because the water spreads back before freezing, clear ice forms hard, dense layers that conform to and distort the airfoil shape—sometimes building into "horns" that severely disrupt airflow. The terms "clear" and "glaze" ice are used for essentially the same type of accretion. Think of it as the heaviest, hardest, and most dangerous icing because it's hard to see and tough to remove.
Also known as: glaze ice
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