Tailplane Icing -- NASA VIDEO
Katherine K. Martin
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
(Phone: 216/433-2406)
Elvia H. Thompson
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1696)
October 3, 2005 RELEASE : 05-039 NASA Develops New Online De-Icing Training Course For Pilots
With winter approaching, NASA is providing pilots with a way to help them avoid the hazards of ice
contamination while their planes are on the ground.
NASA developed "A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing." It's a free, online course intended primarily for
professional pilots who make their own deicing and anti-icing decisions. It's the eighth in a series of
training aids developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, and the first on ground icing.
Tom Bond, chief of Glenn's Icing Branch, said, "The pilot community has asked for training materials to
cover the full spectrum of icing concerns. Ground icing training complements our past work for in-flight
icing training. NASA worked with an international group of aviation safety specialists from both regulatory
and industry organizations to develop a training tool to aid pilots across international borders."
This new educational tool was developed by an international team led by NASA researchers. The team
included experts from NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.; the Federal Aviation
Administration; Transport Canada; Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom; Canadian Armed
Forces; the University of Oregon; a fractional jet provider and an airline.
This self-guided course provides pilots with general ground icing knowledge; an understanding of freezing
precipitation hazards; and the ability to improve decision making in ground icing operations. It discusses
the risks of contamination; provides cues to alert the pilot to ground icing conditions; and offers actions
pilots can take to help ensure safe operations. Imagery, case studies, aviator testimonials and interactive
elements are used to inform and help pilots make better operational decisions.
Ground icing accidents are often preventable. Pilots will be able to receive training to improve the safety
of their flights by using this online course.
"We are committed to supporting NASA's goal to improve aviation safety. By helping pilots and operators
understand the hazards of ground and in-flight aircraft icing, they can make better operational decisions,"
said Dr. Judith Van Zante, icing researcher with QSS Group, Inc., Cleveland. She was a team member at
Glenn, and she was instrumental in developing the course.
The activity was supported by NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program Office, Aeronautics Research
Mission Directorate.
Previous training aids developed at Glenn focused on in-flight icing for various target pilot audiences,
including: Icing for Regional and Corporate Pilots; Icing for General Aviation Pilots; A Pilot's Guide to
In-Flight Icing; Tailplane Icing; and Supercooled Large Droplet Icing.
The new A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing course is available on the Web at:
http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/courses.html
For information about Glenn's icing safety work on the Web visit:
http://icebox-esn.grc.nasa.gov/
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
(Phone: 216/433-2406)
Elvia H. Thompson
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1696)
October 3, 2005 RELEASE : 05-039 NASA Develops New Online De-Icing Training Course For Pilots
With winter approaching, NASA is providing pilots with a way to help them avoid the hazards of ice
contamination while their planes are on the ground.
NASA developed "A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing." It's a free, online course intended primarily for
professional pilots who make their own deicing and anti-icing decisions. It's the eighth in a series of
training aids developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, and the first on ground icing.
Tom Bond, chief of Glenn's Icing Branch, said, "The pilot community has asked for training materials to
cover the full spectrum of icing concerns. Ground icing training complements our past work for in-flight
icing training. NASA worked with an international group of aviation safety specialists from both regulatory
and industry organizations to develop a training tool to aid pilots across international borders."
This new educational tool was developed by an international team led by NASA researchers. The team
included experts from NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.; the Federal Aviation
Administration; Transport Canada; Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom; Canadian Armed
Forces; the University of Oregon; a fractional jet provider and an airline.
This self-guided course provides pilots with general ground icing knowledge; an understanding of freezing
precipitation hazards; and the ability to improve decision making in ground icing operations. It discusses
the risks of contamination; provides cues to alert the pilot to ground icing conditions; and offers actions
pilots can take to help ensure safe operations. Imagery, case studies, aviator testimonials and interactive
elements are used to inform and help pilots make better operational decisions.
Ground icing accidents are often preventable. Pilots will be able to receive training to improve the safety
of their flights by using this online course.
"We are committed to supporting NASA's goal to improve aviation safety. By helping pilots and operators
understand the hazards of ground and in-flight aircraft icing, they can make better operational decisions,"
said Dr. Judith Van Zante, icing researcher with QSS Group, Inc., Cleveland. She was a team member at
Glenn, and she was instrumental in developing the course.
The activity was supported by NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program Office, Aeronautics Research
Mission Directorate.
Previous training aids developed at Glenn focused on in-flight icing for various target pilot audiences,
including: Icing for Regional and Corporate Pilots; Icing for General Aviation Pilots; A Pilot's Guide to
In-Flight Icing; Tailplane Icing; and Supercooled Large Droplet Icing.
The new A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing course is available on the Web at:
http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/courses.html
For information about Glenn's icing safety work on the Web visit:
http://icebox-esn.grc.nasa.gov/