How Does Aircraft Deicer Work? A Guide To Aircraft Deicing

When passengers fly in the winter, often they'll look out an aircraft's window to see snow, sleet or freezing rain coming down at rapid rates. For some, this might trigger a twinge of fear the flight may be delayed. But others know that soon, the aircraft will be enveloped in a mist of colorful fluid meant to keep flights moving along as scheduled – despite the inclement weather.

This process is known as aircraft deicing and is an essential step for airports worldwide for at least nine months out of the year (it's winter somewhere). Airports and ground crews understand that ice on an airplane is an enormous safety hazard that can seriously affect people's travel. All planes are designed to fly clean – meaning crews must clear extraneous materials from the fuselage and wings before takeoff. Having ice on the wings similar in thickness to coarse sandpaper can reduce wing lift by as much as 30 percent and increase drag by 40 percent. Aircraft deicers and the crews that run them take on a great deal of responsibility for keeping airports operational in winter. This article will go over how aircraft deicers work and how ground crews use them to keep military, cargo and commercial planes safe in the sky so passengers can keep flying to their favorite destinations all winter long.

What is Used to Deice Airplanes?

When inclement weather hits and airlines need to begin their plane deicing procedures, they'll need the right equipment for the job and a trained ground crew to operate it. Plane deicers can come in many different variations, but two of the most common you'll see on a runway are plane deicing trucks and mobile plane deicing carts. You can also find personal, portable plane deicers for smaller aircraft or to put finishing touches on certain areas of an aircraft.

Regardless of the size, all aircraft deicing equipment must be wholly reliable and capable of operating in icy weather conditions. Each is equipped with a type of hose meant to shoot airplane deicing chemicals at high pressure onto the aircraft. This is usually done at a 45-degree angle to avoid spraying directly down on the surface. If the equipment isn't working correctly and ground crews cannot start deicing planes, flights will be canceled to avoid unsafe flying conditions.

What Is Aircraft Deicer Fluid Made Of?

As the name suggests, airplane deicing chemicals help remove the snow, ice and slush from the fuselage, wings and aircraft control surfaces. But what is plane deicer made of, and more importantly, how does deicer work?

Aircraft deicer fluid, also called Type I fluid, is made from a mixture of propylene glycol and water. The glycol helps lower the freezing point of the water, which in this chemical mixture is considered the solvent. The fascinating thing about plane deicing chemicals is that the ratio can change depending on the weather. It's all automated – aircraft deicer trucks and carts are equipped with sensors to measure the outside conditions and adjust the mixture accordingly. All the same, Type I aircraft deicer fluid is always heated to about 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit no matter the ratio before it is sprayed from an aircraft deicer's hoses in order to blast off contaminants and clear the aircraft. Keep in mind that Type I fluid tends to be quite slippery and isn't very dense, especially when compared to anti-icing fluid.

The Difference Between Aircraft Deicer Fluid & Aircraft Anti-Icing Fluid

Aircraft deicer fluid can usually get the job done well, but if weather conditions continue to worsen and snow continues to fall, airlines will have to use what's known as anti-icing fluid as an added safety precaution. Anti-icing fluid is also known as a Type IV plane deicing chemical. This fluid has a much higher concentration of glycol than Type I aircraft deicer fluid, giving it a freezing point well below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which can prevent any precipitation that falls into it from freezing and sticking to the plane's surface. Basically, anti-ice fluid can absorb water and prevent it from freezing and sticking to the wing. Anti-icing fluid also has an additional additive that thickens it and makes it more viscous than deicing fluid in order to help it adhere to the aircraft's surface as it gains speed down the runway during takeoff.

During anti-icing procedures, the pilots will shut off external airflow to help prevent the aircraft and passengers from sucking in any chemicals. Propylene glycol is non-toxic, but sometimes toxic ethylene glycol will be used instead.

A Brief Overview of the Plane Deicing Process

When it comes to deicing planes, pilots are the ones to make the call of whether it's necessary or not. They're also responsible for overseeing the entire process, which must be done per FAA guidelines. The guidelines to deice airplanes are extensive and cover everything from the proper handling of aircraft deicer fluid to the documentation required after the process is completed. We've put together a thorough explanation of aircraft deicing procedures before, so we'll only cover the main points here.

Speed and thoroughness are critical when applying aircraft deicer – which is why most deicing procedures occur directly before take off with the passengers already seated. If too much time is taken between the application of the aircraft deicer fluid and take off, the plane could ice over again and will need to be re-treated. This is called holdover time and can vary based on the ratio of the deicing fluid.

Aircraft deicing procedures typically begin at the front of the fuselage, working back to the wings. Once the wings are covered, ground crews can then deice the aft fuselage, the vertical stabilizer and finally, the horizontal stabilizer.

Once the process is complete and the holdover time has not been exceeded, the flight crew is clear to take off, leaving the snow and ice behind.

Shop Tronair for Trusted Aircraft Deicer Equipment & Fluid Today

At Tronair, we know how important it is to make sure aircraft can fly – even when the weather takes a turn for the worse. That's why we've created our line of top-rated aircraft deicer equipment capable of taking on the task and keeping your operations running smooth year-round. Explore our entire selection of plane deicing equipment and fluid to find the right solution to match your needs. And, if you have any questions or need more information regarding our aircraft deicing equipment, you can contact us at any time. Our dedicated team of experts are standing by, ready to assist.

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