CAA Aircraft Icing Handbook
A practical reference guide to understanding, recognising, and managing aircraft icing conditions in New Zealand aviation operations.
The provides pilots, instructors, and aviation operators with essential guidance on how ice forms, its effects on aircraft performance, and how to safely prevent and manage icing in both flight and ground operations. About this handbook
This handbook is a Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand publication designed to improve pilot awareness and decision-making in icing conditions. It explains the risks associated with airframe, induction system, and helicopter icing, and provides practical strategies for safe flight planning and in-flight management.
It is widely used in pilot training, flight instruction, and operational safety planning as a foundational resource for understanding icing risk. Key topics covered
- How and why aircraft icing occurs
- Types of icing (clear, rime, and mixed)
- Effects of ice on aircraft performance and handling
- Carburettor and induction system icing
- Helicopter icing considerations
- Pre-flight planning for cold weather operations
- In-flight recognition and avoidance strategies
- Pilot decision-making and risk management Why it matters
Icing remains one of the most significant weather-related hazards in aviation. Even small amounts of ice can severely impact lift, increase drag, and reduce controllability.
This handbook helps pilots recognise conditions conducive to icing and make safer operational decisions before and during flight. Who it’s for
- Student and private pilots
- Commercial and IFR-rated pilots
- Flight instructors and training organisations
- Aviation safety officers and operators
- Aircraft owners and flying schools Why buy from Vertia
- Official supplier of CAA logbooks, forms, and aviation publications
- Fast shipping across New Zealand Printed to order (2–5 days).
- Trusted source for aviation training and compliance materials
- High-quality printed aviation documentation
- A4 wire-bound for ease of use and saves you having messy unbound pages getting mixed up
Build safer flying practices with a clear understanding of aircraft icing and how to manage it effectively.
Order your today.