During a cross-country flight, if you pick up rime icing estimated at 1/2" thick on the wings leading edge at 2000 feet AGL, what should you do regarding your landing approach?

When encountering rime icing that is estimated to be 1/2 inch thick on the wings' leading edge, the safest approach is to increase your approach and landing speed. Rime ice can significantly disrupt the airflow over the wings, reducing lift and increasing drag. If the ice is not removed, flying at a normal speed could result in insufficient lift during critical stages of flight, like landing, leading to a risk of stalling or control difficulties.

Using a faster than normal approach and landing speed helps to maintain sufficient lift and control despite the degradation of the aircraft's aerodynamic performance due to ice accumulation. It provides a margin of safety by increasing the aircraft’s stall speed, ensuring that the aircraft can maintain control throughout the approach and landing.

Other strategies, such as diverting to an airport with warmer temperatures or attempting to land at normal speeds, do not directly address the immediate risks posed by the icing conditions and could compromise safety further. Therefore, adjusting the speed upward during approach is a prudent and effective response to the hazards introduced by rime icing.