International UAV Icing Workshop
The 3rd International UAV Icing Workshop will take place from 1-3 December 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
As unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and advanced air mobility (AAM) systems operations expand into increasingly demanding environments, atmospheric icing remains one of the key technical and operational challenges. The workshop brings together leading experts from research, industry, and regulatory bodies. This edition of the workshop will be hosted by the Austrian Institute for Icing Sciences in collaboration with the NTNU UAV Icing Lab and RTA Rail Tec Arsenal.
About the Workshop
Atmospheric icing presents unique challenges for unmanned aircraft and advanced air mobility systems. Ice accretion can substantially affect aerodynamic performance, controllability, sensor functionality, power consumption, and overall mission success. The UAV Icing Workshop was established to foster interdisciplinary exchange and strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, testing facilities, and authorities. Building on the success of previous editions, the third workshop will continue to advance the scientific understanding, technological development, and operational readiness in the field of UAV icing.
Date and Location
Date: 📅Tuesday 1st - Thursday 3rd of December 2026
Location:📍Rail Tec Arsenal & Arcotel Kaiserwasser, Vienna Austria
Agenda
- Tuesday 1st of December 2026 at Rail Tec Arsenal
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Opening Remarks, Guided Tour and Ice Breaker
- Start: 13:00 until 21:30
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Opening Remarks, Guided Tour and Ice Breaker
- Wednesday 2nd of December 2026 at Arcotel Kaiserwasser
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- Technical Sessions from 8:30 - 17:00
- Networking Dinner at Rathauskeller from 19:00 - 22:00
- Thursday 3rd of December at Arcotel Kaiserwasser
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- Technical Sessions from 8:30 - 17:00
- A more detailed agenda and schedule of the individual days will be published soon.
Registration
Registration has opened. Due to limited available places the tickets for physical attendance in Vienna are limited to 150.
Registration for Presentation
If you are interested in holding a presentation, please submit an abstract following these Instructions
Please Note: Presentations can only be accepted in combination with a valid ticket
Accommodation
For information on how to get around in Vienna and reach the venues, please refer to the pdf attached below.
To book a room in the hotel at a special rate, please use this Link
Program
The workshop will consist of presentations, technical sessions, and discussions covering a range of topics related to UAV Icing and advanced air mobility systems:
- In-flight icing
- Ground icing
- Atmospheric icing environments
- Ice protection systems
- Ice detection methods and systems
- Simulation of icing (icing CFD)
- Icephobic materials
- Icing weather forecasting
- Icing severity assessment
- Operational challenges in cold climate environments
- Mission and path planning
- Certification
- Flight testing
- Icing wind tunnel experiments
- Urban air mobility
- Synergies between icing on unmanned aircraft and other fields
Guided Technical Tour
As part of the workshop program, participants will have the opportunity to join a guided technical tour at Rail Tec Arsenal (RTA). RTA operates two large Climatic Wind Tunnels which provide the opportunity to investigate the impact of weather on vehicles and components under realistic operating conditions. The visit will provide insight into advanced environmental simulation technologies and large-scale experimental infrastructure relevant to icing research, testing and system validation. This tour will connect workshop discussions with real-world testing capabilities and offer valuable networking opportunities. Please note that while attendance is included in your registration, an RSVP is required during the registration process to secure your spot.
Networking Dinner
On the evening of December 2nd, we invite all participants to join us for a visit to the traditional christmas market at Rathausplatz, followed by the official networking dinner at the historic Wiener Rathauskeller. This evening offers an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues and experience Vienna's festive winter atmosphere. Please note that while attendance is included in your registration, an RSVP is required during the registration process to secure your seat.
Conference Fee
As the workshop continues to grow in size, this year's fee allows us to accommodate the higher number of attendees while maintaining the quality of the event and its infrastructure. For a limited time a reduced early bird fee is charged.
We look forward to welcoming the international UAV community to Vienna in December 2026!