Plain English Meaning

Equipment on the aircraft that gets rid of ice once it has built up on places like the wings or propeller. The pilot turns it on after ice has formed, and the system breaks it off, melts it, or pushes it away.

Full Definition

Aircraft systems designed to remove ice that has already formed on critical surfaces such as wings, tail, propellers, and windshields. Common methods include pneumatic boots that inflate to crack and shed ice, electrically heated elements, and fluid weeping systems that release a freezing-point depressant. Deice systems are activated after is detected, in contrast to which are turned on beforehand to prevent ice from forming.