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News & Events

25/11/19

SENS4ICE newsletter No 1: News from SENS4ICE

icing detection technologies; Appendix O; Supercooled Large Droplet; flight test campaign; icing characterisation; weather hazards; passenger safety; means of compliance; icing certification
SENS4ICE partners during the visit the SAFIRE facilities in June 2019.

The developers of the direct ice detection sensors have defined the operating principles of their sensors and produced their plans for development within SENS4ICE. The various detection instruments have a wide range of maturity levels, from basic technology research through to nearly flight ready systems. The instruments also use a wide range of detection principles to provide the hybrid system with a robust set of inputs from which the icing hazard threat can be determined. The sensor developers have been working in close cooperation with the operators of the icing wind tunnels and flight test platforms. Such close cooperation is necessary to ensure each partner understands the requirements and constraints for testing the sensors in the research facilities and flying testbeds to be used in SENS4ICE.

The indirect detection work has also started with the detailed study and analysis of flight data and aircraft information in order to define the flight parameters necessary for the monitoring of flight performance degradation in icing conditions.

In parallel, key elements have been identified to develop the preliminary design of the remote icing detection product which will complement the hybrid in-flight technologies.

The first steps have been made to define the hybrid ice detection system (HIDS) architectures that combine direct icing and performance degradation data. The partners have drafted the high-level requirements applicable to the HIDS, both on the equipment and aircraft levels. A draft certification programme is being established, including:

  • specific understanding of certification requirements in the frame of the hybrid system;
  • compliance substantiation for each certification requirement (with a proposed set of means of compliance); and
  • a list of associated compliance requirement documents.

The consortium partners have also initiated a close collaboration with the members of the SENS4ICE Advisory Board (insert link towards the Advisory Board page on the website) with a view to preparing the process for evaluation and selection of direct ice detection sensors suitable for the flight tests planned in the project.