Chinese study helps explain ice buildup

The buildup of ice on the wings and control surfaces of an aircraft flying through freezing rain has long been a major safety concern because it can lead to a crash. Now the phenomenon is getting a new look with a Chinese study published on Tuesday that helps explain why icing occurs.

The well-known culprit in ice formation-supercooled large water drops, or SLDs, with a diameter greater than 1,000 microns - can cause trouble with aircraft control or result in ice-clogged engines.

Safety officials are so concerned about SLDs that the US Federal Aviation Administration enacted new rules in November 2014 requiring that aircraft be able to handle such conditions safely.