Definition
An electrothermal ice protection system that uses a graphite foil heating element bonded to the leading edges of the wings and horizontal stabilizer to prevent or remove ice. The system can operate in anti-ice mode (continuous heat to keep ice from forming) or deice mode (cycled heat to shed ice that has already accumulated).
Plain English
A heated layer built into the front edges of the wings and tail. Electricity warms it up so ice either never forms or breaks off after it forms.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of aircraft anti-ice and deice systems, especially on aircraft that use electrically heated wing or tail leading edges.
Derivation
A brand name combining 'therma' (from the Greek 'thermē', meaning heat) with 'wing'. The name describes the system directly: heat applied to the wing.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains clean airfoil shape and lift in icing conditions, reducing the risk of performance loss or control issues.
Grounding Statement
Picture a thin electric heater built into the front edge of the wing, warming the surface just enough to keep ice from holding on.
Intuition Check
ThermaWing does not mean the entire wing is heated. It refers to heated ice-protection areas, mainly on the front edges where ice tends to collect first.
Example Sentence 1
Before entering the cloud layer, the pilot switched the ThermaWing system to anti-ice mode to keep the leading edges clear.
Example Sentence 2
ThermaWing kept the wing leading edges clear during the entire icing encounter.