Adjustable ice protection system parting strip

An electrothermal ice protection system (IPS) installed on an aircraft, the electrothermal IPS comprising:

• a sensor configured to monitor a direction of a local incident airflow imparted on the sensor;
• a parting strip assembly coupled to a critical surface of the aircraft, the parting strip assembly including a plurality of heating sections;
• and
• a controller in signal communication with the sensor and the parting strip assembly, the controller configured to determine a direction of surface airflow incident on the critical surface of the aircraft based on the local incident airflow, and to selectively concentrate power to at least one targeted heating section among the plurality of heating sections with respect to non-targeted heating sections among the plurality of heating sections based on the direction of the surface airflow,
• wherein the controller determines an optimal heating zone of the critical surface based on one or both of the direction of the surface airflow and an ice stagnation area of the critical surface, and delivers a first level of power to the at least one targeted heating section to heat the optimal heating zone while outputting a second level of power less than the first level of power to at least one of the non-targeted heating sections.