Ice isn’t just a concern for drivers on the road; it’s a concern for pilots as well. Ice may form on the body of an airplane while subsequently affecting the airplane’s lift, angle of attack and other flight dynamics. There are ice detection systems, however, that can alert pilots to the presence of ice.
Overview of Ice Detection Systems
Ice detection systems are exactly what they sound like: systems that are designed to sense or detect the presence of ice. They are commonly used on airplanes. With an ice detection system, pilots will know whether there’s ice on the airplane. Pilots can then take measures to eliminate any formed ice.
How Ice Detection Systems Work
There are different types of ice detection systems, but most of them involve the use of one or more probes. The probes are placed on the exterior of an airplane’s body. If there’s ice on the airplane’s body, the probes will sense it. They will then send a signal to the cockpit while alerting the pilot to the presence of the ice.
Most ice detection systems don’t use temperature-sensing probes. Instead, they use ice-sensing probes. The surrounding air may be warmer than 32 degrees Fahrenheit — but that doesn’t mean the airplane’s body is free of ice. Therefore, ice-sensing probes are typically used in ice detection systems.
Ice detection systems use one or more probes to sense the presence of ice on an airplane’s body. If detected, they will send a signal to the cockpit.
Why Airplanes Use Ice Detection Systems
Not all airplanes have an ice detection system. Nonetheless, it’s a common feature of many commercial jets. Ice buildup can prove hazardous. As previously mentioned, it can change the flight dynamics of an airplane.
Pilots can use an ice detection system to identify the presence of ice on the body of the airplane. If the ice detection system signals the presence of ice, pilots can engage a bleed air system. Bleed air systems involve the rerouting of heated air from the engine to the parts of the airplane’s body where ice has formed.
Some airplanes are designed with heating strips on the body to protect against ice buildup as well. The heating strips consist of conductive pathways. They are essentially miniature electric heaters. An electric current will flow through the heating strips, which in turn generates heat. Since the heating strips are placed on the body of airplanes, they will melt any lingering ice or snow.
