Definition
A small visual reference, typically a rod or post mounted outside the aircraft within the pilot's view, used to detect the presence and accumulation of structural ice during flight. Its shape and surface are designed so that ice forming on it is easy to see, often illuminated for night use.
Plain English
A small marker mounted outside the aircraft where the pilot can see it, used to spot ice building up on the airframe.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of structural icing and in airplanes equipped with a visual way to check for ice from the cockpit.
Derivation
The phrase combines 'ice,' 'evidence' (from Latin evidentia, meaning 'clearly visible' or 'obvious'), and 'probe' (a slender object used to detect or examine something). Together: a slender visible object that makes ice obvious.
Why Pilots Care
Gives early indication of ice so the pilot can activate protection systems or leave the icing area before performance is lost.
Grounding Statement
If the airplane is flying through cold cloud and the probe starts to collect ice, the pilot has a visible sign that icing is present.
Intuition Check
Do not think of an ice evidence probe as always being an electronic sensor. Here, “evidence” means a visible sign the pilot can see directly.
Example Sentence 1
Cruising through the cloud layer, the pilot glanced at the ice evidence probe and saw a thin rime building, then requested a lower altitude.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots reference the ice evidence probe reading before deciding whether to continue in known icing conditions.