Plain English Meaning

Rubber strips along the front of the wings and tail. They puff up and deflate to break ice off the airplane in flight.

Full Definition

Inflatable rubber sleeves bonded to the leading edges of wings and tail surfaces that, when alternately inflated and deflated by engine-driven air pressure, flex the rubber to crack and shed accumulated ice.

Context Anchor

Used on aircraft equipped for flight in icing conditions, especially when discussing anti-icing and deicing equipment, preflight checks, and in-flight ice removal.

Derivation

Pneumatic comes from the Greek pneuma, meaning '' or 'breath' — the by being inflated with air. 'Boot' is used in the everyday sense of a protective covering that something, like a boot over a foot. Together: an air-powered protective covering for the leading edges.