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The top level goals of this activity are to develop and field test two forms of remote sensing system technologies that can reduce the exposure of aircraft to inflight icing hazards. The first technology would be ground based and provide coverage in a limited terminal area to protect all vehicles. The second technology would be airborne and provide unrestricted flight path coverage for a commuter class aircraft.
Ground-based system notional concept
Airborne System notional concept
Typically the inflight icing hazard to aircraft is minimized by either protecting the aircraft with de-icing and/or anti-icing equipment or by avoiding all areas with possible icing conditions. Icing avoidance is accomplished by referring to icing weather forecasts and preventing unprotected aircraft from launching into areas of forecast icing conditions. However, icing conditions are often very localized and existing ice forecasting methods are not sufficiently detailed to allow aircraft to avoid icing without also avoiding very large areas of icing-free airspace.
Also, severe conditions may exist occasionally that can overwhelm the ice protection systems of aircraft. The way an aircraft must deal with these conditions is to immediately exit the area. However little or no guidance is available to assist the aircrew. There is currently no method for identifying these conditions at the levels of resolution that could help a pilot exit the hazardous airspace.
One way to address both of these problem areas is to remotely detect icing potential and present the information to the pilot in a clear, easily understood manner. Such systems would allow avoidance of icing conditions and also allow rapid escape from icing if severe conditions were encountered.
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