How should wing de-ice boots be checked prior to flight in icing conditions?

• A. Turn the boots ON on the ground for 1 minute during icing protection tests.
• B. Run the boots continuously without power for 2 minutes.
• C. Test the boots only in flight at the first icing encounter.
• D. Do not test the boots prior to flight.

Answer: (A)

Wing de-ice boots must be verified before flight to ensure they will function properly when icing starts. Turning the boots on while on the ground causes them to inflate and deflate, allowing you to observe a full cycle and confirm there are no leaks, pump or line failures, or control issues. Running the test for about a minute gives enough time for multiple inflation/deflation cycles and any abnormal behavior to show up, so you can address problems before you encounter icing. Testing in flight or waiting for icing to reveal a malfunction is unsafe, and attempting to test without powering the system would not verify actual boot operation.