Plain English Meaning
Equipment that gets rid of ice that has already built up on the aircraft. It works after ice has formed, breaking it off or melting it away.
Full Definition
Aircraft systems and devices designed to remove ice that has already formed on aircraft surfaces during flight or on the ground. Common types include pneumatic boots on wing and tail leading edges that inflate to crack and shed accumulated ice, and ground-applied chemical fluids that melt existing ice and snow before takeoff.
Context Anchor
Seen in airplane systems descriptions, preflight checks, and discussions of the outer wing surfaces and tail section, especially where ice can collect on .