Airline flight plans require airline dispatch offices to monitor the progress of weather along the routes of their flights , helping the pilots to avoid the worst of inflight icing conditions . Aircraft can also be equipped with an ice detector in order to warn pilots to leave unexpected ice accumulation areas , before the situation becomes critical . Pitot tubes in modern airplanes and helicopters have been provided with the function of " Pitot Heating " to prevent accidents like Air France Flight 447 caused by the pitot tube freezing and giving false readings
Air France Flight 447
Air France Flight 447
Aviation safety