Laser pointer to detect wing ice?

[FL420]

Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of the technique of using a handheld laser pointer to detect frost or ice on the top of a wing during preflight inspection? How about from the cockpit inflight?

I remember hearing or reading something several years back about someone recommending it. Supposedly the presence of ice causes the light beam to disperse or attenuate. I haven't been able to track down any specifics online.

 

[sleddriver71]

Never heard of using the laser pointer. What's wrong with a flashlight? It's always worked fine for me (better than an ice light on the Seneca's and Chieftains). It's not that hard to see or detect. A drop in airspeed is usually a good indication too.

 

[sky37d]

A little change in attitude, pitch, is a good indicator, too.

 

[FL420]

Okay. To be more specific. A laser pointer was reported to be useful to detect a layer of clear ice on the top of a wing before flight. A layer which may be difficult to see because it's clear and difficult to feel because it's smooth.

 

[Dr Pokenhiemer]

If you can't tell if there's ice on the wing on your PREFLIGHT, maybe you should stick your tongue to it! Who needs a laser pointer----maybe the guy in the Sporty's book--the one with the head thing that holds 2 mag lights.

 

[Gorilla]

You guys are missing his point. Clear ice on, say, a B777 wing can be difficult to detect. Touch it? Stick your tongue on it? Good luck, unless you're 20 feet tall, or drive a cherry picker on your walkaround. Not everyone flies Lears.

The MD-80 had a well-known clear ice problem due to supercooling of the wing fuel, followed by descent in even very light moisture. We had to climb a ladder and rub a PVC pole onto several texture strips to detect the ice on top. We also had to attempt to view surfaces from the AC cabin. I've detected clear ice in this way that would have been very difficult to detect in any other fashion.

I like this idea and see how it can be valuable. The scattering effect of the ice would be pretty obvious, although you'd need a powerful laser, maybe one of those green jobs.

 

[91100 100 set]

With all the hoopla lately with laser pointers and aviation, have fun trying to explain it's purpose to the overzealous TSA screener who finds it in your bag.

 

[Comin-In-Hot]

I don't know kid, magic tricks and laser swords are no match for a good blaster at your side.

-Han Solo

 

[FL420]

You guys are missing his point. Clear ice on, say, a B777 wing can be difficult to detect. Touch it? Stick your tongue on it? Good luck, unless you're 20 feet tall, or drive a cherry picker on your walkaround. Not everyone flies Lears.

Exactly. I can't remember the last time I flew anything small enough for me to touch the bottom of the wing, much less the top.

The MD-80 had a well-known clear ice problem due to supercooling of the wing fuel, followed by descent in even very light moisture. We had to climb a ladder and rub a PVC pole onto several texture strips to detect the ice on top.

I cringe everytime I see a Mad Dog pilot at the next gate climb up that rickety, icey aluminum ladder to check the top of the wing.

I like this idea and see how it can be valuable. The scattering effect of the ice would be pretty obvious, although you'd need a powerful laser, maybe one of those green jobs.

IIRC, a small red classroom type laser was used. Whether you are responsible for the safety of just one or more than 200 trusting souls you owe it to them to use all the tools available to you to get them off the airplane in as good a shape as they were when they got on.

 

[Thedude]

A little change in attitude, pitch, is a good indicator, too.

Its probably too late by then