How planes continue to fly in icy conditions
The problem of ice buildup
Most people do not give much thought as to whether ice builds up on aircraft and what the consequences of that could be.
Key challenge
But preparing airplanes to withstand icy conditions is one of the major challenges of commercial air travel.
Messing with the physics
Snow and ice can significantly affect the physics of flying, so it is very important that planes are deiced before they go airborne.
Why deicing is important
Deicing a plane before it takes off is very important, because snow and ice on aircraft wings can decrease lift by up to 30%.
Impacting control
When an airplane’s wings are covered in snow and ice, it negatively affects the pilot’s ability to maneuver and control the aircraft.
Risk of ice breaking off
There is also the risk that ice on the wings of an aircraft may break off during the flight and damage one or more parts of the aircraft.
Crucial step
Given these considerable risks, deicing an aircraft is a crucial step in its preparation for a flight, particularly during the winter months.
Glycol-based
Instead, there are specific chemicals produced for deicing aircraft. Generally, they consist of a water-based solution of glycol mixed with various additives.
Most common types
The most common types of glycols used are propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. They tend to make up 30-70% of the deicing solution.
Four fluid types
Airlines generally use four standard fluid types when deicing an aircraft. They each have different viscosities and holdover times.
Step one
In the first step of the process, the crew removes any existing ice or snow from the plane using a heated Type I fluid, or a heated solution of Type I fluid and water.
Thin fluid
They are also thin enough to flow off the plane while it’s not moving, which means they can be applied to any aircraft.
Preventing accumulation
This is the step that helps prevent the future accumulation of ice and snow on the wings of the plane.
Until takeoff
In general, these fluids stay on the aircraft until the plane is taxiing down the runway during takeaway. By this point the aircraft has gained enough speed to remove the fluids from the plane by sheer force.
Type III fluids
Type III deicing fluids, which are formulated to flow off planes at lower speeds, are less common nowadays.
Environmental considerations
When it comes to the environmental impact of deicing planes, there are a number of things to consider.
