Which term describes the time restriction associated with ice pellets?

• A. Allowance time
• B. Maximum time
• C. Holding time
• D. De-icing window

Answer: (A)

The key idea is holdover time—the period after de-icing/anti-icing fluid is applied during which the aircraft is protected from icing. When ice pellets are falling, this window can be quite short because the pellets can quickly overwhelm or contaminate the fluid, leading to renewed icing if the holdover time is exceeded. Holdover time is defined by the type and concentration of fluid, the air and surface temperatures, wind, and the rate of precipitation; it’s the safety margin that tells you how long you can wait before you must reapply. Among the given terms, the closest is holding time, since it refers to a time window after treatment, but the precise aviation term you’ll see in manuals is holdover time. The other options don’t describe this specific, fluid-related time window.