Abstract: The present application proposes a device and method for controlling the size of a sheet of ice which can build up on an aircraft surface as a result of icing, particularly SLD icing. In some circumstances it is possible to tolerate a build up of some ice without significant aerodynamic penalties. However, the size of such ice sheets must be controlled to ensure that any ice sheet detaching from the aircraft surface has a mass that is within the acceptable margins for projectiles which may impact aircraft structure downstream. Thus, a first aspect of the invention provides an aircraft having an exterior surface arranged to face upstream in the airflow direction during flight and a plurality of anti-ice accretion projections extending away from the exterior surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking the formation of ice on an aircraft in flight, characterized in that the method comprises: the estimation (S4) in real time of a quantity of ice (SWC) forming on at least one zone of the aircraft according to flight conditions and the comparison (S5) between the estimated quantity of ice (SWC) and a predetermined quantity of ice (SWCmax; SWCTHR).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking the formation of ice on an aircraft in flight, characterized in that the method comprises: the estimation (S4) in real time of a quantity of ice (SWC) forming on at least one zone of the aircraft according to flight conditions and the comparison (S5) between the estimated quantity of ice (SWC) and a predetermined quantity of ice (SWCmax; SWCTHR).