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This paper presents the latest findings resulting from ongoing research on jet engine ice crystal icing. It specifically focuses on the challenges for pilots to identify and potentially avoid weather associated with this type of engine icing. The case will be made that jet engine power loss and damage events are not only still occurring, but the overall number of events per year is increasing. Several case studies will be presented to illustrate that each event can vary significantly when viewed from the flight deck even though weather conditions are similar for each. Findings will be presented related to new events that are occurring on engines that were not previously affected along with new engine symptoms. Ongoing meteorological research has shed new light on how to identify weather associated with engine events utilizing infrared satellite imagery combined with atmospheric temperature profiles.

The significant problem of engine power-loss and damage associated with ice crystal icing (ICI) was first formally recognized by the industry in a 2006 publication [1]. Engine events described by the study included: engine surge, stall, flameout, rollback, and compressor damage; which were triggered by the ingestion of ice crystals in high concentrations generated by deep, moist convection. Since 2003, when ICI engine events were first identified, Boeing has carefully analyzed event conditions documenting detailed pilot reports and compiling weather analyses into a database. The database provides valuable information to characterize environments associated with engine events. It provides boundary conditions, exposure times, and severity to researchers investigating the ICI phenomenon. Ultimately, this research will aid in the development of engine tests and ICI detection/avoidance devices or techniques.