Ice Equipment Failures

If theres one system that breeds overconfidence in the neophyte, its ice protection gear. Ice in the forecast? Youve got that known-ice Turbo Bugsmasher tucked away in a hangar just for such occasions. Problem solved, right? Not so fast.

Editorial Staff

Monday, August 04, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must have a thorough understanding of their aircraft's specific ice protection systems, including their operational limits and proper usage, to avoid overconfidence.
Proactively engage anti-icing and de-icing systems *before* encountering icing conditions, and diligently monitor their performance through pre-flight and in-flight checks.
Be prepared to quickly diagnose system malfunctions, understand their implications, and implement appropriate troubleshooting steps, temporary fixes, or emergency procedures.

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Flying safely when ice builds on the airframe is challenging enough when everything is working right. Here are a few tricks for when it doesn’t.
If there’s one system that breeds overconfidence in the neophyte, it’s ice protection gear. Ice in the forecast? You’ve got that known-ice Turbo Bugsmasher tucked away in a hangar just for such occasions. Problem solved, right? Not so fast.