Originally Posted by
hrmham
Question for the experienced cargo pilots (I have a lot of time to build for my ATP). Now that winter is coming (and icing concerns build) I'm curious about the rough percentage of time that is spent in the soup during the cruise portion of your flights? That is, while I get it that ice build-up can be an issue as you climb through a cloud deck to get to cruise (or on descent), but do you typically find a cruise altitude clear of clouds?
It isn't a question of in the soup or not; it's a question of outside air temperature.
Ice forms in a fairly narrow temperature spread. It's simple to climb or descend out of that temperature band in almost all circumstances.
Once you're out of turboprops you'll find that most icing in most modern jets is a non-event.
However, to answer your VMC vs IMC percentage of the time question; I'd say there's a good reason pilots wear sunglasses.