The course consists of academic lectures and in-flight instruction. Content includes an in-depth discussion of icing cloud microphysics and atmospheric thermodynamics; the aerodynamic, flight control, propulsion, instrument, and systems effects of airframe icing; FAA and EASA icing certification requirements; and the ground and flight test procedures necessary to validate aircraft and ice protection systems to show compliance with the applicable airworthiness regulations. The course addresses both the Appendix C continuous- and intermittent-maximum envelopes and Appendix O supercooled large drop (SLD) conditions, Ice Contaminated Tail Plane Stall, and the rationale for the dry-air, simulated-ice-accretion, and natural-icing test methods used to demonstrate compliance. 

The practical part includes two demonstration flights in the Cirrus SR-22. The first flight is flown in the clean (ice-free) configuration to establish baseline data. Take-off and climb performance, stall warning and stall speed determination, and stall characteristics are evaluated. The second flight is flown with artificial pre-activation ice shapes installed. Ice is simulated with a 2-inch-wide strip of 40-grit sandpaper applied symmetrically around the leading edge of the wing and horizontal stabilizer. The simulated ice covers the stall strips on each wing plus the stall warning system inlet on the right wing. The same evaluations — take-off and climb performance, stall warning and stall speed determination, and stall characteristics — are repeated and compared directly against the clean-configuration baseline to quantify the aerodynamic effects of the simulated ice.