Does the stall warning system have any protection from ice?

Does the stall warning system have any protection from ice?

• A. Yes, it is fully ice-protected
• B. No, but some aircraft may be equipped with a heated stall warning system consisting of a vein, sensor unit and heating element on the leading edge of the wing
• C. It is protected by the deicing boots
• D. It is never affected by ice

Answer: (B)

Stall warning relies on a sensing element, typically a vane, that looks at the airflow and angle of attack to alert you before a stall. Ice can accumulate on that vane or its sensor, blocking airflow or giving false readings, which can make the warning unreliable in icing conditions. To counter this, some aircraft use a heated stall warning system that keeps the sensing surface clear. This setup includes the vane, the sensor unit, and a heating element on the leading edge of the wing to melt ice. It’s not universal—some airplanes don’t have this protection—so icing can still affect the stall warning on those models.

Stall warning relies on a sensing element, typically a vane, that looks at the airflow and angle of attack to alert you before a stall. Ice can accumulate on that vane or its sensor, blocking airflow or giving false readings, which can make the warning unreliable in icing conditions. To counter this, some aircraft use a heated stall warning system that keeps the sensing surface clear. This setup includes the vane, the sensor unit, and a heating element on the leading edge of the wing to melt ice. It’s not universal—some airplanes don’t have this protection—so icing can still affect the stall warning on those models.