Ice and Rain contol

Question 1

Are pneumatic deicer boots operated before ice forms or after it has formed?

Answer 1

Pneumatic deicer boots are not operated until ice has formed over them. When the boot inflates, it breaks the ice, and the air flowing over the airfoil blows it ways

Question 2

Where does the air come from to operate the pneumatic deicer boots on a reciprocating engine powered airplane?

Answer 2

from the discharge side of the air pump used to operate the gyro instruments

Question 3

What is meant by a wet vacuum pump used to power pneumatic deicer boots?

Answer 3

It is a vacuum pump that uses engine oil to lubricate its steel vanes. A dry vacuum pump uses carbon vanes, and it does not require any oil for lubrication

Question 4

What is the purpose of the oil separator in a deicer system?

Answer 4

Oil separator are used with wet vacuum pumps to remove the lubricating oil from the discharge air before the air is used in the deicer boots

Question 5

How are rubber deicer boots cleaned?

Answer 5

By washing them with mild soap and water

Question 6

How are the rubber deicer boots attached to the leading edges of aircraft wings and tail surfaces?

Answer 6

They are bonded to the surface with an adhesive. Boots on the older aircraft were attached with machine screws and rivernuts

Question 7

What is the sequence on inflation of a deicing boot system?

Answer 7

There are three tubes in deicer boot, upper, center and lower. The center tube inflates first with the upper and lower tubes a specified number of second later