FLT INTO FORECAST ICING.

Narrative

WX WAS CHKED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DAY. FORECAST WAS FOR LIGHT TO MODERATE ICE. WX AND PLT RPTS INDICATED FLT COULD BE MADE SAFELY. I TOOK OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS ON TOP IN ABOUT 2 MINS. ENTIRE FLT EXCEPT FOR APCH WAS MADE ON TOP. APCH AND LNDG WERE MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT OR PROBS. DEICE BOOTS AND WINDSHIELD WERE NOT USED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES THE CESSNA 402B FOR A SMALL MIDWEST AIR FREIGHT CARRIER. ANOTHER SMALL AIR FREIGHT ACR HAS RECENTLY LOST SEVERAL CONTRACTS CARRYING FREIGHT FOR A VERY LARGE ACR BECAUSE THE SMALL ACR COULD NOT FLY IN ICING CONDITIONS UNDER FAR 135.227 OR COMPLY WITH FAR 135 APPENDIX A; PARAGRAPH 34. THESE ARE THE GOVERNING REGS UNDER WHICH 135 ACRS ARE ALLOWED TO FLY IN FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS. THE RPTR'S ACFT DOES MEET ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS. THE RPTR FLIES MOSTLY IN THE OMAHA FLT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE AREA. HE HAS RECEIVED A LETTER OF INVESTIGATION FROM THE WICHITA FLT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE ABOUT THIS MATTER. THE WICHITA FLT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE HAS A MUCH STRICTER INTERP OF THE FARS THAN THE OMAHA OFFICE. THE RPTR BELIEVES THAT HE HAS DONE NO WRONG; BUT WILL CONTINUE TO SEND ASRS RPTS UNTIL THIS SIT IS CLRED UP. THE RPTR HAS USED HIS DEICING EQUIP ONLY 3 TIMES ALL WINTER.