SENS4ICE project ice detection technologies overview and initial results

Abstract

The EU project SENS4ICE (GA no 824253) addresses reliable detection and discrimination of supercooled large droplets (SLD) icing conditions. These conditions are considered as particularly safety-relevant and have been included in airplane certification specifications. The SENS4ICE project comprises technology development, icing wind tunnel upgrading/testing and flight testing. A novel hybrid approach for icing detection combines direct sensing (atmospheric conditions / ice accretion) with indirect techniques based on changing aircraft characteristics. The first part of the project was devoted to the development and maturation of icing detection technologies, with a focus on Appendix O (of 14 CFR Part 25 and CS-25) icing conditions. Furthermore, several icing wind tunnel facilities have improved capabilities to represent Appendix O conditions. Icing wind tunnel testing (including Appendix O) of several icing detection sensors developed in the SENS4ICE project concluded the first part of the project. Examples of initial results are presented. The main goal of the remainder of the project is flight testing of icing technologies in natural icing conditions including Appendix O.