TRAining the next generation of iCE researcherS

In 2019, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) identified in-flight icing as a priority 1 issue for large aeroplanes with the aggregated European Risk Classification Scheme score being amongst the highest of all safety issues.

In-flight icing can occur when an aircraft flies through clouds of supercooled droplets, namely, drops of liquid water with a temperature below the freezing point, which freezes upon impact.

Aircraft icing can lead to a reduction of visibility, damage due to ice shedding, blockage of probes and static vents, reduced flight performance, engine power loss, etc.

In addition to safety concerns, inservice icing events can lead to major disruption of air operation and aircraft maintenance.

The more frequent occurrence of severe thunderstorms due to climate change results in more in-flight accidents also at cruising altitudes, with more than 100 engine failures in recent years.

Recently, icing-related issues are being observed in newer, more efficient aircraft engines due to the lower temperature of operation.

The main goal of TRACES EJD is to provide high-level training in the field of inflight icing to deliver a new generation of high achieving Early Stage Researchers in the diverse disciplines necessary for mastering the complexity of ice accretion and its mitigation in aircraft and aeroengines.

This goal will be achieved by a unique combination of hands-on research training, non-academic placements at major EU aviation industries and courses and workshops on scientific and complementary so-called soft skills facilitated by the academic/non-academic composition of the consortium.

Innovative Ice Detection and Ice Protection Systems based on disruptive technologies will be designed by the ESRs during Project Working Group.

EASA will provide training on certification procedure and together with major industries in the field will assess the ESRs projects during a team Design & Certify exercise.