## Tandem Skydiving and Automatic Activation Deice
Tandem skydiving is a popular adventure sport that involves jumping from an airplane with a certified instructor attached to you. While skydiving is generally considered safe, there are certain risks involved, including the risk of icing. Icing occurs when water vapor in the air freezes on the airplane’s wings or other surfaces. This can make the airplane difficult to control and can lead to an accident.
To reduce the risk of icing, some skydiving airplanes are equipped with automatic activation deice systems. These systems use sensors to detect the presence of ice on the airplane’s surfaces. When ice is detected, the system automatically activates a deicing solution that melts the ice and prevents it from building up.
Automatic activation deice systems are an important safety feature for skydiving airplanes. They can help to reduce the risk of icing and make skydiving a safer sport.
### How Do Automatic Activation Deice Systems Work?
Automatic activation deice systems use a variety of sensors to detect the presence of ice on the airplane’s surfaces. These sensors can be located on the wings, the tail, and the fuselage. When the sensors detect ice, they send a signal to the deicing system.
The deicing system then activates a deicing solution that is sprayed onto the airplane’s surfaces. The deicing solution is a mixture of water and propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a type of alcohol that has a low freezing point. When the deicing solution is sprayed onto the airplane’s surfaces, it melts the ice and prevents it from building up.
### Benefits of Automatic Activation Deice Systems
Automatic activation deice systems offer a number of benefits for skydiving airplanes. These benefits include:
Reduced risk of icing: Automatic activation deice systems can help to reduce the risk of icing by detecting and melting ice before it has a chance to build up.
Increased safety: By reducing the risk of icing, automatic activation deice systems can help to make skydiving a safer sport.
Peace of mind: Automatic activation deice systems can give skydivers peace of mind by knowing that their airplane is equipped with a system that can help to protect them from the dangers of icing.
### Limitations of Automatic Activation Deice Systems
Automatic activation deice systems are not without their limitations. These limitations include:
Cost: Automatic activation deice systems can be expensive to install and maintain.
Weight: Automatic activation deice systems can add weight to the airplane, which can reduce its performance.
Complexity: Automatic activation deice systems can be complex to operate, which can require additional training for pilots.
Overall, automatic activation deice systems are an important safety feature for skydiving airplanes. They can help to reduce the risk of icing and make skydiving a safer sport. However, it is important to be aware of the limitations of these systems before using them.
## Conclusion
Tandem skydiving is a great way to experience the thrill of freefall. However, it is important to be aware of the risks involved, including the risk of icing. Automatic activation deice systems can help to reduce the risk of icing and make skydiving a safer sport.