Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Diverted
Aircraft; Company Policy; Weather
While on descent we encountered Rime Ice and activated the wing Anti Ice system. ECAM generated a Wing Anti Ice. System Fault message. We complied with the ECAM actions which included exiting icing conditions. Icing was assumed to exist all the way to the ground based on reports of low ceilings and light snow at our destination so we opted to climb and divert to our filed alternate. We did not declare an emergency since ATC allowed us to climb immediately out of icing conditions and the wings appeared to by ice-free based on visual inspection.We advised Flight Attendants; passengers and Dispatch via ACARS. They did not respond immediately; but while on final approach to we got a request from Dispatch to consider two other airports. Due to prevalent IMC in the region and our fuel state we opted to continue and land at since it was VMC and our fuel state might not support delays to analyze the feasibility of reaching another alternate without entering IMC or icing. The station personnel were VERY helpful in dealing with a large aircraft they were not trained on and additional passengers they had not planned for; and should be commended. After several hours; Contract Maintenance was able to defer the Wing Anti Ice system in the 'on' condition and we were able to proceed to our original destination.If the company would prefer that crews divert to somewhere other than the filed alternate they should communicate that in a timely manner or ideally in advance. Fuel often precludes lengthy analysis of multiple options. Either file for the 'preferred' alternate in the first place or add an additional 'preferred' alternate to the release; in addition to the legal filed alternate.
An Air Carrier pilot reported while on short final to their filed diversion airport Dispatch requested they divert to a different airport.