AEROFOIL CONTAMINATION

Aircraft icing in flight is usually classified as being either structural icing or

induction icing.
Structural icing refers to ice forming on aircraft and components while
induction icing refers to ice formation in the engine induction system.
STRUCTURAL ICING
Ice forms on aircraft structure and surfaces when super cooled water
droplets impinge on them and freeze.
Small and/or narrow objects are the best collectors of water droplets and
ice up rapidly.
INDUCTION ICING
In turbo jet aircraft, air is drawn into the engine creates an area of reduced
pressure at the inlet, which lowers the temperature below that of the
surrounding air.
In marginal icing condition, this reduction in temperature may be sufficient
to cause ice to form on the engine inlet, disrupting airflow into the engine.
LEVELS OF INTENSITY
TRACE
Ice becomes perceptible.
Rate of accumulation is slightly greater than the rate of sublimation.
It is not dangerous even though de-icing/anti-icing equipment is not used,
unless encountered for an extended period of time. (say over one hour)
LIGHT
The rate of accumulation may create a problem if flight is prolonged in this
environment.(say over one hour)
Occasional use of de-icing/anti-icing equipment removes/prevents ice
accumulation.
It does not present a problem if de-icing/anti-icing equipment is used.
MODERATE
The rate of accumulation is such that even short encounters become
potentially dangerous and use of de-icing/anti-icing equipment is
necessary. Diversion of flight is necessary.
SEVERE
The rate of accumulation is such that the de-icing/anti-icing equipment fails
to reduce or control the hazard. Diversion of flight is necessary.
EFFECTS OF ICING ON AIRCRAFT
The lift characteristics of the lift producing surfaces are destroyed.
It affects the performance of the aircraft.
The efficiency of the aircraft is decreased.
It increases the weight of the aircraft.
It increases the drag and reduces the lift.
It causes destructive vibrations.
It hampers true instrument readings.
Radio reception and engine performance is affected.
It affects the clear visibility of the pilot.
CLASSIFICATION OF ICE FORMED ON AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE
There are four main types of icing that usually form on an aircraft structure. They
are: (1) Frost/Hoar frost (2) Rime ice (3) Clear ice or Glaze ice and (4) Mixed ice.
The type of ice formed on an aircraft structure mainly depends on different
meteorological conditions, which are dependant on temperature and
precipitation.
FROST/HOAR FROST
Ice crystals formed by sublimation when water vapour freezes on the
ground or any other exposed object, whose temperature is at or below zero
degree centigrade forming a white crystalline structure.
This does not form a heavy blanket on the aircraft structure.
Frost roughens the surface of the aircraft and is similar to sticking sheets of
coarse emery paper all over the skin.

RIME ICE
Rime ice is the term given to a rough opaque white structure.
Rime ice can form at ground level or at altitude.
In flight, rime ice forms on the leading edge of an aircraft when it flies
through a low density cloud of small super cooled water droplets.
Low temperatures, lesser amount of liquid water, low velocities and small
droplets favour formation of rime ice.
Rime ice usually forms on areas such as leading edge of wings or struts.

CLEAR ICE (GLAZE ICE)
Glaze ice is also known as clear ice or rain ice.
Glaze ice forms a transparent air free sheet on an aircraft structure.
Glaze ice can be formed even when the aircraft is on the ground by freezing
rain water.
Glaze ice can be formed when the aircraft flies into a dense cloud of small
super cooled water droplets.
Glaze ice is denser, harder and sometimes more transparent than rime ice.
Temperature close to the freezing point, large amounts of liquid water, high
aircraft velocities and large droplets are conducive to formation of clear ice.
Glaze ice is most dangerous because it is clear, hard to see and can change
the shape of the aerofoil.

MIXED ICE
Mixed ice is a mixture of Rime ice and glaze ice.
Mixed ice has the bad characteristics of both Rime ice and glaze ice.
Mixed ice forms rapidly.
Ice particles become embedded in clear ice, building a very rough
accumulation.