I am trying to remember my instrument rules and sadly I am not sure the nature of icing conditions (maybe because I trained over a summer and stupidly didnt pay too much attention to icing).

If you are flying in an aircraft that says flight into known icing conditions is prohibited (IE most small GA aircraft), is that basically flight in the clouds above freezing level or only when there is an air/sigmet out for icing? I want to do some IFR time building and the cold midwest weather keeps the clouds nice and low so I can get some actual time. However, it also means the freezing level is always at the surface.

Thanks!

Edit: I think I found my answer here with a very good article: http://www.ifr-magazine.com/defining...n_faa_ifr.html

Basically: NO - flight into IMC with temp at or below freezing consitutes "known" icing conditions and in an aircraft prohibited for said flight, it would be a operational violation.