Abstract
Human visual and tactile ice detection capabilities while inspecting deiced aircraft surfaces have not been quantified. Six male professional deicers from AeroMag 2000 Montreal participated in the experiment. We used a cold chamber to simulate one of the conditions experienced in the operational deicing environment. Ice samples were created by APS Aviation on white painted aluminum panels. Ice thicknesses ranged from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm and were covered with aircraft deicing fluid. We used a two-alternative forced-choice procedure in which we showed a deicer a panel, then a second panel, and finally asked him to indicate on which of the two ice was present. Our data showed that, within the range of thicknesses we presented, deicers were unable to visually detect ice of any thickness on the white painted panels, but could easily detect ice using a tactile check.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.