A little snow is mostly dangerous to airmen (5)

I believe the answer is:

flake

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'a little snow' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for flake that I've seen before include "Piece of skin or snow" , "Flat thin fragment" , "A little snow" , "Piece of falling snow" , "Small piece of snow" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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