Wind Tunnel Testing for Icing Conditions & Impact on Aircraft Performance Workshop
- Date:
- 4th December 2025
- Location:
- Filton
- Organisation:
- Airbus
- Host(s):
- Paul White, Airbus
This workshop offers a focused exploration into the critical area of wind tunnel testing specifically designed for aircraft icing conditions and the resultant impact on aerodynamic coefficients. Hosted at Airbus UK, this event is a unique opportunity for professionals and researchers from industry and academia to converge, share expertise, and discuss the latest advancements and challenges in simulating, measuring, and understanding the effects of atmospheric icing on aircraft performance.
Key Focus Areas
The workshop will cover fundamental principles, state-of-the-art techniques, and practical applications, including:
Icing Wind Tunnel Operation: Principles of simulating realistic atmospheric icing environments (rime, glaze, mixed ice) within a controlled wind tunnel setting.
Measurement Techniques for Ice Accretion: Methods for accurately measuring and documenting ice shapes, distribution, and mass, including non-intrusive optical and laser techniques.
Aerodynamic Coefficient Measurement: Specific protocols and instrumentation for precise measurement of lift, drag, and moment coefficients under various iced configurations.
Impact of Icing on Aerodynamics: Detailed analysis and discussion on how different ice shapes (e.g., horns, roughness) degrade aerodynamic performance, increase drag, and reduce maximum lift.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Validation: Using wind tunnel data to validate and refine computational models for icing prediction and performance degradation.
Scaling Laws and Extrapolation: Challenges and methodologies in scaling wind tunnel test results to full-scale flight conditions.
Certification and Regulatory Aspects: Overview of the role of wind tunnel testing in meeting airworthiness requirements related to flight in icing conditions.
Who Should Attend?
This highly specialized workshop is ideal for:
- Aerodynamicists and Aircraft Designers
- Wind Tunnel Engineers and Operators
- Icing Specialists and Researchers
- Academics and Graduate Students in Aerospace Engineering
Join us to deepen your understanding and collaborate on solutions for one of the most critical challenges in aviation, safety and efficiency.
Taking place at Airbus UK, Filton Wind Tunnel, Bristol, BS34 7PA from 10.30 to 16.30 on 4 December 2025. Open to both academia and industry, this event is free to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. All attendees are responsible for personal travel expenses.
To register your interest in attending please complete the registration form. Please note registration does not guarantee a place, all applicants are subject to review and approval by Airbus.