Deicing Oddities

April 15, 2011
Just when I think I’ve heard it all, something new comes across my desk or, more accurately, beeps into my Blackberry mailbox.  Just recently, a friend who teaches a graduate course for aviation workers on airport environmental rules and regulations (a course which everyone in GSE or airport management, or anyone who aspires to be in management, might consider taking) sent me a 2009 EPA survey of airline deicing methods.  Where once deicing liquids flowed haphazardly across the tarmac, now the government — and local communities — are much more concerned about these chemicals seeping into ground water and wreaking havoc on our health.  The purpose of this EPA study was to determine effluent limitations and guidelines at airports.   Of the dozens of airlines surveyed by the EPA, the overwhelming number used deicing methods any of us would expect an airline to use — fluids applied under pressure from a nozzle, often from mobile deicing trucks.  A handful reported using other equipment such as brooms, ground sprayer and ladder, small portable unit, towed tower and the like.   One airline reported using a handheld bottle/container.  He thought that was rather odd and asked me if I had ever heard of deicing an airplane — especially one used by an airline — in that manner.  I never had.  Of course, I assume the aircraft was fairly small, but it was a novel way — at least in my experience — for an aircraft to be deiced.  Any of you hear of this method?  Or do you have your own ramp oddities you could share with us?  Email me directly at [email protected].