A320 Ice And Rain
Airbus A320 Anti-Icing System Overview
Components of the Anti-Icing System
- The anti-icing system includes wing anti-icing, engine anti-icing, window heating, and probe heating subsystems.
- Engine bleed air is utilized for wing slats and engine nacelle anti-icing, while electrical heat is used for flight deck windows and various probes.
Control Mechanisms
- Anti-ice controls are located on the overhead anti-ice panel; wiper controls are also found there. Information is displayed on the upper ECAM memo section and ECAM bleed page.
Wing Anti-Icing Functionality
- Hot air from the pneumatic system protects outboard slats (3, 4, and 5) during flight via a wing anti-ice valve controlled by a push-button switch. Selecting this switch opens the valves and displays a message on ECAM.
- On ground selection initiates a test of the wing anti-ice valves for 30 seconds before closing them again. An amber fault light indicates issues with valve positioning or low bleed pressure.
Engine Anti-Icing Operations
- Each engine uses independent bleed air supplied through two-position valves controlled by respective push-button switches on the anti-ice panel; these close when switched off. Continuous ignition activates automatically when engine anti-ice is engaged.
Window Heating Systems
- Electrical heating protects cockpit windshields using two window heat computers that monitor for overheating and send fault messages to ECAM; manual activation is possible via a push-button switch in auto position during specific conditions.
Probe Heating Mechanism
Probe Heating Controls
- Three probe heat computers manage pitot probes, static ports, angle of attack probes, and total air temperature probes' heating systems to prevent overheating while transmitting fault messages to ECAM.
Operational Conditions for Probes
- Probes are heated automatically if in auto mode with at least one engine running or in flight; otherwise, they operate at low power on the ground with high power activated during flight conditions.
Wiper Operation Procedures
Wiper Control Features
- Two-speed electric wipers remove rain from front windshields; rotary selectors control their speed settings (slow/fast) and parking position when turned off. Ensure wipers are off during safety checks as part of pre-flight procedures.
Icing Conditions Awareness
Pre-flight Checks
- During cockpit checks confirm all relevant switches (wing anti ice, engine 1 & 2) are in normal positions before takeoff under icing conditions (outside temp ≤ +10°C with visible moisture).
In-flight Icing Protocol
Wing and Engine Anti-Ice System Faults
Wing Anti-Ice Valve Faults
- When the wing anti-ice push button is off and the valve is not closed, a fault is displayed. A chime sounds, the master caution light illuminates, and the ECAM bleed page appears automatically.
- After landing, if the wing anti-ice valve fails to close, ECAM requests turning off engine bleed to prevent ground heating of wings. The system indicates that left anti-ice valve has not opened when selected.
- To address this issue, pilots should turn off the wing anti-ice system and avoid icing conditions by touching the corresponding switch.
Engine Anti-Ice Valve Issues
- Pilots are instructed to activate both engine 1 and engine 2 anti-ice push buttons to ensure proper operation.
- If an engine anti-ice valve remains closed after activation, an "engine valve closed" fault occurs. This triggers a fault light on the switch with only a warning to avoid icing conditions.
Windshield Heating and Probe Failures
- Overheating of windshields or sensor failures can trigger faults requiring crew awareness. For instance, if probe or static port heating fails, it will show as a captain's pitot heat fault.