What is the recommended action to avoid icing during flight?

Choosing to fly into temperatures above 0° C or below -20° C is the recommended action to avoid icing during flight. Icing typically occurs in temperatures between these two thresholds, particularly when flying in the presence of supercooled liquid water, which can be found in clouds.

When the temperature is above 0° C, the likelihood of encountering ice is minimal, as precipitation will generally fall as rain. Alternatively, flying at temperatures below -20° C can also reduce the risk of icing because the air is usually more stable, and the moisture tends to freeze out instead of remaining liquid.

This strategy maximizes safety, as it keeps aircraft out of the specific temperature range where icing hazards are most common, allowing for smoother and safer flight conditions. Higher altitudes may sometimes provide clearer air, but they do not guarantee avoidance of icing if flying within the critical temperature range.