In flight, engine bleed air for anti-icing to the wing leading edges in known icing conditions is

• A. Used Continuously
• B. Used Intermittently
• C. Not Used
• D. Only On The Ground

Answer: (A)

Continuous heating of the wing leading edges with engine bleed air is required in flight when known icing conditions exist. Ice can begin to form very quickly on the wing’s leading edge, and any interruption in heating could allow ice to accumulate, altering the aerodynamic shape and increasing drag, reducing lift, and potentially affecting stall behavior. The anti-ice system uses hot bleed air from the engines to keep the leading edge surface above freezing for the duration of the icing conditions, so it’s typically kept on continuously during flight in these conditions. It isn’t limited to ground operations, nor is it safely handled by turning the system on and off intermittently.