October 3, 2005

Katherine K. Martin
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
(Phone: 216/433-2406)

Elvia H. Thompson
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1696)
RELEASE: 05-039

NASA DEVELOPS NEW ONLINE DE-ICING TRAINING COURSE FOR PILOTS

With winter approaching, NASA is providing pilots with a way to help

them avoid the hazards of ice contamination while their planes are on
the ground.

NASA developed "A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing." It's a free, online
course intended primarily for professional pilots who make their own
deicing and anti-icing decisions. It's the eighth in a series of
training aids developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland,
and the first on ground icing.

Tom Bond, chief of Glenn's Icing Branch, said, "The pilot community
has asked for training materials to cover the full spectrum of icing
concerns. Ground icing training complements our past work for
in-flight icing training. NASA worked with an international group of
aviation safety specialists from both regulatory and industry
organizations to develop a training tool to aid pilots across
international borders."

This new educational tool was developed by an international team led

by NASA researchers. The team included experts from NASA's Ames
Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.; the Federal Aviation
Administration; Transport Canada; Civil Aviation Authority in the
United Kingdom; Canadian Armed Forces; the University of Oregon; a
fractional jet provider and an airline.

This self-guided course provides pilots with general ground icing

knowledge; an understanding of freezing precipitation hazards; and
the ability to improve decision making in ground icing operations. It
discusses the risks of contamination; provides cues to alert the
pilot to ground icing conditions; and offers actions pilots can take
to help ensure safe operations. Imagery, case studies, aviator
testimonials and interactive elements are used to inform and help
pilots make better operational decisions.

Ground icing accidents are often preventable. Pilots will be able to

receive training to improve the safety of their flights by using this
online course.

"We are committed to supporting NASA's goal to improve aviation

safety. By helping pilots and operators understand the hazards of
ground and in-flight aircraft icing, they can make better operational
decisions," said Dr. Judith Van Zante, icing researcher with QSS
Group, Inc., Cleveland. She was a team member at Glenn, and she was
instrumental in developing the course.
The activity was supported by NASA's Aviation Safety and Security
Program Office, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

Previous training aids developed at Glenn focused on in-flight icing

for various target pilot audiences, including: Icing for Regional and
Corporate Pilots; Icing for General Aviation Pilots; A Pilot's Guide
to In-Flight Icing; Tailplane Icing; and Supercooled Large Droplet
Icing.

The new A Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing course is available on the Web
at:

http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/courses.html

For information about Glenn's icing safety work on the Web visit:

http://icebox-esn.grc.nasa.gov/

For information about NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

on the Web visit:

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/

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