The known ice 600s I maintained definitely had inboard wing boots and hot plates. Never saw any Aerostar with alcohol w/s.[/quote]

There were plenty with alcohol windshields. They did them at least up to the early 1980's - I have a 1981 602P with an alcy windshield that I believe is grandfathered known-ice.

I don't think you can make one known ice with the alcy added to the plane at this point.[/quote]
I assume the tank and pump is in the nose??[/quote]

The tank is just inside of the cargo door.

Thanks, Frank

Turbos also give you better ROC to get higher if you run into ice.

I love cruising in the teens. No traffic, less frequency changes as you are talking to Center. Above most of the cloud decks.

Turbos also give you better ROC to get higher if you run into ice.

I love cruising in the teens. No traffic, less frequency changes as you are talking to Center. Above most of the cloud decks.

This reminds me of going on the internet to ask "How do I change a lightbulb?" only to be told that you should switch to LED bulbs or that sitting in the dark is more environmentally friendly.

This reminds me of going on the internet to ask "How do I change a lightbulb?" only to be told that you should switch to LED bulbs or that sitting in the dark is more environmentally friendly.

IIRC, all Aerostars were eligible for FIKI with the appropriate kits installed. One of the great things about the Aerostar was many of the options could be added later ala cart.

The one I had had all of the required options other that wing root boots and manual alternate air doors. I flew it across Lake Michigan all of the time and never felt a need for more capability. However, being a 601P/SS700 I had many options to avoid the ice.

If an ice event was going to take you out while flying your non-FIKI Aerostar (very unlikely given the nature of weather prediction and in-flight weather depiction) it is highly unlikely that a FIKI Aerostar will escape the identical conditions.
I would argue that the primary reason to have a FIKI plane IS so that you can legally launch into known icing conditions, having made the proper risk analysis.
In many parts of the country, icing almost always exists in the clouds and (for much of the year) down to the ground. If you intend to use a plane on a schedule, you’re going to have to be willing to launch into known ice, you just have to be smart about it. The alternative is to cancel so many trips that it’s not worth paying to own and operate the plane.
I’m taking about scheduled business use here. Private flight for personal reasons with no time constraint is a completely different matter.

Thomas,

I would agree on the FIKI vs non-FIKI in an Aerostar often having minimal differences.
However, I would point out that should not be applied in general. There are substantial differences in a Cirrus between FIKI and Ice something (I forget the name), same from what I have read for Piper Senecas (I do not know the details).

Tim