Safe Flight Instrument of White Plains, N.Y., has developed an aircraft-based icing conditions detector (ICD) system using a combination of optical detection and a shielded temperature probe. The optical system uses an LED, a prism and an infrared sensor to detect the presence of moisture in the air.

Combining moisture detection with accurate temperature information allows the system to detect when icing conditions are encountered, and an alert is issued to the pilot. This allows the crew to take appropriate actions, such as activating ice protection systems or finding different meteorological conditions before the ice accretion becomes critical.

Safe Flight developed and tested the ICD at its facility, with additional tests being conducted at the National Research Center in Ottawa, Canada. These trials have shown the system’s ability to respond with an alert within a few seconds of entering icing conditions.

A form-fit design has been developed to take into account airflow, drag and installation considerations. Safe Flight expects a deliverable ICD to weigh between 0.5 and 0.8 pounds.