Definition
An ice protection technique that uses electrical current passed through resistive heating elements embedded in or bonded to a surface to warm it above freezing, preventing ice from forming or removing ice that has already formed. Common applications include propeller boots, pitot tubes, stall warning vanes, windshields, and some leading edges.
Plain English
Using electricity to heat parts of the aircraft so ice can't stick to them, or so existing ice melts off. The current flows through built-in heating elements, much like the wires inside an electric kettle.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft ice protection discussions and in cockpit controls such as pitot heat, propeller heat, or windshield heat.
Why Pilots Care
Keeps airspeed indicators, visibility, and rotating surfaces functional when flying through visible moisture or icing conditions.
Analogy
It is similar to the way a toaster makes heat from electricity, but on an aircraft the heat is directed only to specific parts that need ice protection.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as general cabin heat or warming the whole airplane. In this context, it means using electric heat on specific aircraft parts that need protection from ice.
Example Sentence 1
The pitot tube uses an electric heating method, so the pilot turns on pitot heat before entering visible moisture near freezing temperatures.
Example Sentence 2
Windshield electric heating method activation is required on the checklist for known icing forecasts.