Ice Protection Specialists Focus on Unmanned Aircraft

CAV Ice Protection’s engineering staff, recently relocated to New Century Airport, are increasing focus on the company’s expertise in developing ice protection for unmanned flight.

“CAV Ice Protection recently completed a consulting and manufacturing programme for a manufacturer of a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), which wishes to remain unidentified,” said Vice President – Sales and Marketing Ken Weaver. “Completion of this programme is a milestone development for the company.”

“From start to first customer delivery took less than 18 months. Execution of the program adds to our world-class competency and expertise in developing ice protection solutions for UAS applications throughout the world.” The system designed by CAV Ice Protection provides autonomous protection in continuous maximum and intermittent maximum icing environments for a wide range of adverse weather capabilities.

Inclusion of a fluid recirculation and heating system permits long loiters in cold environments, and the system meets NATO airworthiness safety requirements. The ice protection system supplied by CAV Ice Protection exudes a measured amount of glycol-based TKS^™fluid through precision laser-drilled microscopic holes in wing and empennage leading edges fashioned of titanium.

Tapping into extensive CAV Ice Protection expertise, the company recommends, develops, implements and oversees aircraft ice protection implementation. CAV Ice Protection has experience with testing, government approvals, component qualification, electrical system design, reliability, safety analysis, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, quality, manufacturing design and integration.

CAV is dedicated to providing ice protection expertise and counsel to aircraft manufacturers and operators. The company has worked with manufacturers and operators in the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. Unmanned airframes that have incorporated CAV Ice Protection TKS systems have included the General Atomics Predator, the Elbit Systems Hermes^® 900, and the Israel Aerospace Industries Heron. CAV Ice Protection delivers systems to aircraft manufacturers and provides kits for retrofit installations. CAV’s customer base includes manufacturers of unmanned aircraft, general aviation aircraft and more than 6,000 aircraft owners who fly their products.