Do not hold icing with slats or flaps extended. Which statement is true?

Do not hold icing with slats or flaps extended. Which statement is true?

• A. It is acceptable to hold in ice with slats/flaps extended
• B. Do not hold in ice with slats/flaps extended
• C. Hold only at high altitude
• D. Hold at any speed

Answer: (B)

In icing conditions, keeping slats or flaps extended while holding is risky because ice on those surfaces distorts the airflow, increases stall speed, and reduces control effectiveness. Extended surfaces provide more area for ice to cling to and can shed unpredictably, making it harder to maintain safe flight and recover from a stall. Therefore, the safest approach is not to hold with the slats/flaps extended; retract them to a clean configuration and seek to exit the icing conditions or descend to a safer altitude. Altitude or speed alone doesn’t change this fundamental risk, and holding with extended surfaces isn’t considered acceptable.

In icing conditions, keeping slats or flaps extended while holding is risky because ice on those surfaces distorts the airflow, increases stall speed, and reduces control effectiveness. Extended surfaces provide more area for ice to cling to and can shed unpredictably, making it harder to maintain safe flight and recover from a stall. Therefore, the safest approach is not to hold with the slats/flaps extended; retract them to a clean configuration and seek to exit the icing conditions or descend to a safer altitude. Altitude or speed alone doesn’t change this fundamental risk, and holding with extended surfaces isn’t considered acceptable.