Which statement correctly differentiates anti-icing from de-icing?

Which statement correctly differentiates anti-icing from de-icing?

• A. They are the same thing.
• B. Anti-icing is preventative; de-icing is removing icing.
• C. De-icing is preventative; anti-icing is removing icing.
• D. Anti-icing only applies to engines.

Answer: (B)

Anti-icing and de-icing describe different approaches to ice on an aircraft based on timing and purpose. Anti-icing is preventative: it’s applied before or during potential icing to stop ice from forming on surfaces like wings, probes, or engines. De-icing, on the other hand, is about removing ice that has already accumulated, typically using heated fluids or mechanical means. So the statement that best captures the distinction is that anti-icing is preventative while de-icing is removing icing. The idea that they are the same thing is false, anti-icing isn’t limited to engines, and the notion that de-icing is preventative is the opposite of how these processes work.

Anti-icing and de-icing describe different approaches to ice on an aircraft based on timing and purpose. Anti-icing is preventative: it’s applied before or during potential icing to stop ice from forming on surfaces like wings, probes, or engines. De-icing, on the other hand, is about removing ice that has already accumulated, typically using heated fluids or mechanical means.

So the statement that best captures the distinction is that anti-icing is preventative while de-icing is removing icing. The idea that they are the same thing is false, anti-icing isn’t limited to engines, and the notion that de-icing is preventative is the opposite of how these processes work.