T/F: It is prohibited to depart during ground icing conditions if the holdover time has been exceeded.

In aviation safety protocols, the decision to depart during ground icing conditions hinges on adherence to established guidelines regarding holdover times. The concept of holdover time refers to the duration a de-icing or anti-icing fluid is expected to remain effective in preventing ice formation on an aircraft's surfaces after application. If holdover times are exceeded, it does not automatically prohibit departure, as other factors are taken into account.

The correct assertion is that it is not inherently prohibited to depart once the holdover time has passed. Pilots and airline operations must conduct thorough assessments based on the current weather conditions, the effectiveness of the de-icing methods used, and whether residual ice is still present on the aircraft. The safety strategy involves a combination of data-driven decisions and the practical condition of the aircraft at the time of departure, rather than a blanket prohibition.

In practice, this means that while exceeding holdover times is a significant concern, a nuanced approach allows for flexibility based on situational assessments. Thus, simply stating that it is prohibited is not accurate, rendering the response that it is false as the most appropriate understanding of the matter.