Narrative:

We were on approach to clt. We were cleared for approach on runway 36L. The ATIS reported light freezing rain, temperature 32 degrees F. While on the approach, the tower said the new ATIS. Freezing rain and the temperature 32 degrees F. There was no icing in the clouds and no reports of freezing rain sticking to ground. Braking action was reported as good. We landed with no sign of freezing rain. On the ground we talked (the captain and I) over the approach. We knew we could not land in moderate freezing rain, but did not realize that when the ATIS reports freezing rain it's the same as reporting moderate freezing rain. So even though no icing conditions actually existed, we landed in what was reported as moderate freezing rain. The terminology must be changed to light freezing rain, moderate or heavy freezing rain. Also, pilots should be given the option to continue if the reported condition does not exist. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter is now aware of the provisions of far 121.629(a) which allows flight crew to continue flight when icing conditions are met as long as the captain determines that there will be no adverse safety effects. The reporter's flight manual confuses this situation by mentioning only moderate or heavy freezing rain or heavy freezing drizzle. Light or freezing conditions less than moderate freezing rain or heavy freezing drizzle are not addressed. The reporter still is unclr in his mind if 'freezing rain' is the same as 'moderate freezing rain.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CREW LANDED IN A RPTED FREEZING RAIN SIT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON APCH TO CLT. WE WERE CLRED FOR APCH ON RWY 36L. THE ATIS RPTED LIGHT FREEZING RAIN, TEMP 32 DEGS F. WHILE ON THE APCH, THE TWR SAID THE NEW ATIS. FREEZING RAIN AND THE TEMP 32 DEGS F. THERE WAS NO ICING IN THE CLOUDS AND NO RPTS OF FREEZING RAIN STICKING TO GND. BRAKING ACTION WAS RPTED AS GOOD. WE LANDED WITH NO SIGN OF FREEZING RAIN. ON THE GND WE TALKED (THE CAPT AND I) OVER THE APCH. WE KNEW WE COULD NOT LAND IN MODERATE FREEZING RAIN, BUT DID NOT REALIZE THAT WHEN THE ATIS RPTS FREEZING RAIN IT'S THE SAME AS RPTING MODERATE FREEZING RAIN. SO EVEN THOUGH NO ICING CONDITIONS ACTUALLY EXISTED, WE LANDED IN WHAT WAS RPTED AS MODERATE FREEZING RAIN. THE TERMINOLOGY MUST BE CHANGED TO LIGHT FREEZING RAIN, MODERATE OR HVY FREEZING RAIN. ALSO, PLTS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO CONTINUE IF THE RPTED CONDITION DOES NOT EXIST. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR IS NOW AWARE OF THE PROVISIONS OF FAR 121.629(A) WHICH ALLOWS FLC TO CONTINUE FLT WHEN ICING CONDITIONS ARE MET AS LONG AS THE CAPT DETERMINES THAT THERE WILL BE NO ADVERSE SAFETY EFFECTS. THE RPTR'S FLT MANUAL CONFUSES THIS SIT BY MENTIONING ONLY MODERATE OR HVY FREEZING RAIN OR HVY FREEZING DRIZZLE. LIGHT OR FREEZING CONDITIONS LESS THAN MODERATE FREEZING RAIN OR HVY FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE NOT ADDRESSED. THE RPTR STILL IS UNCLR IN HIS MIND IF 'FREEZING RAIN' IS THE SAME AS 'MODERATE FREEZING RAIN.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.