De-icing

[daveg]

Yup that's pretty much what I posted. Nothing in there about "spoilers".

[mulligan]

So, any technical types out there who know why spoilers don't have the same laminate coating that the rest of the wing has?

[J31]

So, any technical types out there who know why spoilers don't have the same laminate coating that the rest of the wing has?

The spoilers and ailerons are composite whereas the wing is metal. I think the composite changes temperature faster than the wing thus frost more ready settles on them first. Many a times I have seen the flaps, spoilers, ailerons, and the outer portion of the wing frost up quickly during a 30-45 minute turn.

The wing fuel tank area will tend to be the last to frost up. The exception is when certain combinations of fuel temperature, air temperature, and humidity cause fuel tank icing.

[mulligan]

Many thanks.