OPTIM-ICE is a LIDAR-based assisted deicing system

Safety and efficiency are the highest priorities of all deicing operations. OPTIM-ICE delivers on both of these priorities.

Every winter, aircraft deicing operators work within centimetres of aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Even the most experienced operators face challenging weather, poor visibility and time pressure, making precision and safety critical in every deicing operation.

OPTIM-ICE is Vestergaard’s intelligent operator assistance system, designed to help operators maintain a safe distance from the aircraft while delivering faster, more consistent and more efficient deicing.

Using LIDAR radars OPTIM-ICE initiates a job by scanning the aircraft in one quick pass. The software immediately recognizes the aircraft surface and selects the appropriate deicing patterns. The software then takes over and assists the operator by moving the nozzle in pre-selected patterns across the wing and stabilizer.

The radars ensure that the nozzle or telescope cannot touch the aircraft surfaces. A software will slow down the approach and stop it completely at designated distance (typically 1 meter). The operator is still in control, and it is his or her judgment whether the surfaces are clean, but OPTIM-ICE performs the operation semi-automatically. Training can be reduced as the software assists the operator.

OPTIM-ICE can be ordered on new Elephant® BETA deicers and be retrofitted to newer models.