Pitot Heat and Anti-Ice, What Is It Good For?

nawyecky · 01-03-2002, 07:27 PM

Topic says it all. Technical explanations welcome.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...6f61c93420.jpg

bobsey28 · 01-03-2002, 07:34 PM

Maybe the topic needs re-phrasng to: Pitot Heat and Anti-Ice - why bother? Does FS actually SIMULATE icing conditions, or are these switches just for show?

This is a simulator. Why doesn't it simulate SOMETHING other than the aircraft or winds?

ChartMan · 01-03-2002, 07:43 PM

If you don't turn the pitot heat on, you may loose your airspeed indicator in freezing tempatures. That happened to me in the default 737 - I'm not sure about other aircraft.

Ken Peters,
FSCharts.com

bobsey28 · 01-03-2002, 07:55 PM

So - it DOES simulate icing conditions then? WOOHOO! Getting the temp down to -4 today then, with NO de-ice and snowing conditions! :)

I'm going to see if the aircraft exhibits these symptoms. THanks! I never bothered to try it before because I thought I'd be wasting my time.

nawyecky · 01-03-2002, 07:56 PM

I'm asking this because my Commander 115TC has a prominent "Pitot Heat OFF" indicator on the announciator which is on all the time, unless you turn PT on. Looked like a big deal that I was missing.

What about anti-ice?

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...6f61c93420.jpg

**AeroBob** · 01-03-2002, 08:07 PM

I believe it's there to prevent ice forming on the wings, making them lose their shape and thusly the aerodynamic effect.

Air Florida Flight 90 (a 737, I think - haven't checked) infamously crashed into the Potomac river after the pilots didn't turn their anti-ice systems on. The plane lost lift after take off, hit a bridge, slid across it (killing five motorists) and crashed through the frozen river.

**elcamino** · 01-03-2002, 08:17 PM

I remember that one. A guy standing on the river bank jumped
into the river, swam out, saved a woman, instant hero.

I was to the understanding the plane was de-iced on the ground, then sat either on the ramp or at the end of the runway for an
extended period of time before it took off. Suspect the plane re-iced prior to runway entry and t.o. Maybe the anti-icing
system wasn't on. Did they ever recover the plane and id the
switch positions?

**DaveKDEN** · 01-03-2002, 09:07 PM

Oh boy, sems many need to educate themselves.

Pitot heat. - The application of electrical heat to the pitot tube. This prevents ice from building up inside the pitot tube which could cause erroneous airspeed indications.

Anti-Ice. - The application of either electrical or bleed air to the leading edge of airfoil surfaces or engine components to prevent ice from building up.
Another type of application is "de-ice" which uses electrical, bleed air, or "boots" to remove ice that has already formed.

Dave

PS; Maybe try a little research on your own before posting questions here.