Which components are typically activated for anti-ice actions when icing conditions are detected on a narrowbody?

• A. Tail anti-ice and cabin anti-ice.
• B. Wing de-ice only.
• C. Wing anti-ice and engine anti-ice.
• D. No anti-ice actions are required.

Answer: (C)

When icing conditions are detected, the goal is to prevent ice from forming on surfaces that most affect flight safety. For a narrowbody, the critical surfaces are the wing leading edges and the engine inlet. Ice on the wing leading edges alters the airfoil shape, increases drag, and reduces lift, which can lead to stalls or loss of performance. Ice inside the engine inlet can disrupt airflow, threaten compressor stability, and even cause engine flameout. Activating wing anti-ice and engine anti-ice keeps these surfaces free of ice by heating them, usually with bleed air or electrical power, maintaining safe lift, handling, and engine operation.

Wing de-ice would only remove ice that has already formed, which is not as effective as preventing it in the first place when conditions are conducive to icing. Tail anti-ice and cabin anti-ice are not the primary actions required for this scenario on a standard narrowbody, and doing nothing would ignore the safety risk.