Ingestion of ice particles by jet engines, known as ice particle icing, is thought to be the reason for multiple engine power-loss and damage events. Identification of areas of high ice water content (HIWC) is crucial for safe flight in and near convective systems. The Algorithm for the Prediction of HIWC Areas (ALPHA) is an automated nowcasting tool based on existing knowledge of HIWC conditions. The algorithm defines ranges of interest for a set of critical meteorological predictors of HIWC and blends that information to yield an estimate of HIWC probability in a given location. The result is a 3-dimensional weather product that estimates the likelihood of HIWC conditions. Case studies demonstrating ALPHA performance during research flights are presented in this paper.
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