RuAviation

The Russian-developed SO-114 ice detector has received certification for installation on applicable aircraft types, including the Il-114-300 regional turboprop. The approval provides a domestic alternative to imported ice-detection equipment and supports the aircraft’s intended operation in regions exposed to icing conditions.

Developed by Russian company OKB Aerospace Systems, the SO-114 underwent more than a year of qualification and certification work. The certification application was submitted in July 2025, with testing covering simulated icing in a wind tunnel, direct lightning exposure and vibration. Russian Aviation Register specialists participated in the conformity assessment under the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya).

The detector identifies ice accumulation on critical aircraft surfaces by monitoring changes in the resonant frequency of a sensing element. As ice builds up, the frequency decreases, triggering a warning signal for the aircraft’s anti-icing system. The system is intended to provide timely detection of icing onset so that the crew and onboard systems can respond to changing flight conditions.

OKB Aerospace Systems said the SO-114 was developed to replace comparable foreign equipment. The programme involved theoretical calculations and experimental research into icing physics and the dynamics of oscillating components.

Certification is relevant to the Il-114-300’s intended operations in the Arctic, Siberia and the Russian Far East, where aircraft may encounter demanding meteorological conditions. The approval establishes the SO-114’s compliance with applicable aviation requirements, although no information was provided on installation quantities or the schedule for integrating the detector into production aircraft.