Aircraft De-Icing Status Prediction From Weather and Prior Departures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft operators lack real-time information for making informed decisions about de-icing needs, leading to uncertainties in taxi fuel estimates, predicted holdovers, departure times, and arrival times during adverse weather conditions.

Innovation Solution

A de-icing determination system using a control unit that analyzes current date, weather, and historical de-icing data to predict when de-icing is necessary, providing real-time information to aircraft operators through user interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pilots determine de-icing needs based on personal judgment without real-time information, then decision-making is simple and quick, but accuracy and reliability of de-icing status determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvede-icing status determination accuracyVSAvoidinformation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary between weather data sources, historical de-icing data, and aircraft operators. This control unit automatically processes and analyzes multiple data streams to generate de-icing status information, eliminating the need for pilots to manually assess complex weather conditions while providing reliable, data-driven recommendations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring current weather conditions, comparing them with historical de-icing data, and providing real-time de-icing status information back to aircraft operators. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that decisions are based on the most current and accurate information available

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If de-icing operations are performed without accurate prediction, then aircraft safety is compromised, but fuel consumption and operational delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft safetyVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary analysis of weather conditions and historical data before de-icing operations are initiated. By predicting de-icing needs in advance with high accuracy, the system enables operators to make informed decisions about whether to proceed with de-icing, taxi to de-icing areas, or delay departure, thereby optimizing fuel consumption while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts de-icing recommendations based on changing weather parameters such as temperature, precipitation type, and intensity. By continuously monitoring these parameter changes and comparing them against historical thresholds, the system provides real-time updates on de-icing status, allowing operators to respond appropriately to evolving conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If real-time de-icing information is provided to aircraft operators, then decision-making quality improves, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation availability for operatorsVSAvoiddata processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit extracts only the most relevant de-icing status information from complex weather data and historical records, presenting it in a simplified format to aircraft operators. This extraction principle filters out unnecessary data while retaining critical information needed for decision-making, reducing information overload for users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified copies or representations of complex weather and operational data that are tailored for aircraft operator consumption. Rather than presenting raw meteorological data, the control unit generates user-friendly de-icing status indicators and recommendations that convey essential information in an accessible format

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Loss of energy

If de-icing operations are delayed to optimize fuel usage, then fuel efficiency improves, but departure time accuracy and operational productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoiddeparture throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By providing advance de-icing status information, the system enables operators to plan departure schedules and fuel loads in advance. This preliminary information allows for optimized scheduling where aircraft can be staged efficiently, minimizing both fuel consumption during waiting periods and overall departure delays through better resource allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12479585B2Aircraft de-icing determination systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A system and a method include a control unit for determining a probable de-icing status for one or more aircraft scheduled to depart from one or more airports. The control unit is configured to determine the probable de-icing status based on a current date at the one or more airports, current weather at the one or more airports, and the actual de-icing status of a plurality of prior aircraft scheduled to depart from the one or more airports before the one or more aircraft.