Icing is a safety risk for manned aircraft operating at high altitudes and poses a critical threat to unmanned aerial systems (UAS), even near the ground. Especially during autumn, winter, and spring, when temperatures are around freezing and visible fog is present, ice can accumulate on the aircraft even at low altitudes. This leads to increased drag, higher power consumption, and reduced lift, which can quickly escalate into an uncontrollable issue and thus a significant safety hazard.

Recent tests in the climate wind tunnel at Rail Tec Arsenal have demonstrated that UAS can enter critical flight conditions within just a few minutes. This presentation will showcase experimental findings and highlight potential solutions for protecting unmanned systems. Various systems, including passive coatings, electrothermal heating, and innovative fluid-based technologies, will be compared.

At a glance:
„Icing can become a problem within minutes, jeopardizing commercial drone operations – but innovative protection systems are on the way.”
(Reinhard Puffing, Managing Director Austrian Institute for Icing Sciences)

Reinhard Puffing holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a degree in aeronautical engineering and has over 15 years of experience in aircraft icing and de-icing. In his presentation “Flying Smart: Managing Icing Risks to Maximize UAS Uptime and Safety“ at the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM he will share valuable insights on how to protect UAS in icing conditions.

The 2025 edition of the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM on 17-18 February will be the first to take place in Düsseldorf – embedded into the world premiere of the XPONENTIAL Europe. Together, we will identify the main obstacles for the UAS industry and discuss how these can be cleared. Fully in line with the theme of the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM 2025: „Shaping the future: Clearing obstacles to commercial UAS operations in Europe”

Get your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/e8uFBuTA