Method for controlling anti-icing means in an aircraft as a function of the ice accretion rate, and corresponding system

Method for controlling an anti-icing device protecting at least one outer surface of an aircraft, the device being provided with at least one anti-icing means and a means for measuring the ice accretion rate, the at least one anti-icing means comprising at least one anti-icing means with a heating element and/or at least one anti-icing means with a mechanical element, the control method comprising steps of determining at least one activation parameter of the at least one anti-icing means as a function of the ice accretion rate determined by the measuring means in order to prevent the accretion of ice over the at least one outer surface to be protected or in order to reduce the thickness of the ice accumulated over the at least one outer surface to be protected, the control method further comprising the following steps:

• determining a duration between two activations as a function of the ice accretion rate, a correlation factor between the ice accretion rate measured by the measurement of the ice accretion rate and the ice accretion rate at the outer surface to be protected, and a maximum tolerated ice thickness;
• and
• controlling an actuator of an anti-icing means each time the determined duration between two activations elapses, so as to reduce the thickness of ice formed on the at least one outer surface to be protected.