Originally Posted by
hotwing
Why does the FAA and the airlines continue to use glycol (an 80 year old technology) to de-ice/anti-ice aircraft? (reference Kilfrost.com) After considering the improvements made in the electronics industry, it would seem cost effective to manufacture future aircraft with heating elements built into the airfoils and/or airframe thus bypassing the need to use any de-icing system. Wouldn't a heated wing/airframe meet the "clean aircraft" concept. Our national airspace system would be safer and more reliable. Our GDP would benefit with fewer missed meetings and overall stress on the traveling public. Does anybody know why the FAA. airlines, or aircraft manufacturers are not pursuing a type of heated wing/airframe?
I'm not an engineer, but the first thing that comes to mind is that the wings are full of fuel and the heating elements needs to be pretty darn powerful. Probably not a good combination
I've seen quite a few, failed attempts to this, it seems we are stuck with pouring on chemicals