What does a pilot expect when encountering light to moderate clear icing?

When a pilot encounters light to moderate clear icing, they should expect the potential for airframe icing. Clear icing can form when supercooled water droplets freeze upon contact with the aircraft surfaces, leading to a smooth, transparent layer of ice. This type of icing can accumulate quickly, affecting the aircraft's performance by increasing weight and altering aerodynamic characteristics.

It is crucial for pilots to recognize the presence of clear icing because it can severely impact control and performance metrics, making it critical to mitigate the risks by avoiding further icing conditions or considering altitude adjustments, if safe to do so, to escape the icing environment. Identifying the potential for airframe icing allows pilots to prepare for the consequences on flight operations, including potential handling difficulties and increased stall risk.

In contrast, while it may seem that light to moderate icing could be manageable (hence options referring to minimal impact or significant climb performance), the reality is that even light icing can pose serious risks that demand careful consideration and strategic maneuvering. Likewise, immediate descent requirements are typically a reaction to severe icing conditions, which may not apply in cases of only light to moderate ice. Therefore, the focus is rightly placed on understanding the implications of airframe icing in this scenario.