Aircraft Ground Deicing: An Automated Approach

Ice accumulation on aircraft during ground operations is a phenomenon that greatly impacts the aviation industry in terms of safety, protection of the environment, and total operating cost. This abstract addresses the need for an automated aircraft ground deicing system. Several areas of importance are addressed, many with overlapping issues. Aircraft ground deicing has long been a concern of the flying public, the airlines, regulatory agencies, and aviation organizations. Many of these groups continue to seek improvements in the current system, an application system whose inefficiencies have in the past resulted in the loss of lives and airplanes. The FAA estimates that air travel will experience a 5.6% growth in the commuter segment and 3.5% growth for U.S. domestic carriers as well as a higher growth rate for air cargo these rates are predicated to stand through 2005. An increase in traffic of this magnitude will have the potential to cause ground deicing to become a critical problem resulting in increased delays. The development of an automated ground deicing system will allow the aviation industry to incorporate current technology, resulting in an additional level of safety in air travel. An automated, programmable deicing system will provide the public with a multitude of environmental and safety benefits. One result of automation will be the ability to implement quality control measures. An automated system incorporating ice detection equipment for use before deicing will precisely locate and remove ice contamination from the aircraft surfaces through the use of fluid metering and spray nozzle control. Detection after deicing will then verify and record the ice removal for later reference. This will result in reduced chemical usage, cabin fumes, and environmental impact. An essential element of the system will be its proximity to the ends of the runway. This will ensure that the application is accomplished as close to takeoff as feasible, thereby eliminating the need for gate returns. One major advantage to the airlines will be the system's ability to make available arrangements such as a third party contract service, eliminating the need for seasonal employee reassignment, high cost seasonal equipment, training, and maintenance. This arrangement will also allow for the consolidation of assets and resources, further reducing cost. Airport advantages will include better control of environmental issues, resulting from the measurable reduction in glycol usage. A corresponding reduction in expenditures for the maintenance and monitoring of wastewater treatment ponds will be realized.

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See papers presented at FAA In-flight Icing / Ground De-icing International Conference & Exhibition, June 2003, Chicago, IL, USA, Session: Airplane De/Anti-icing during Ground Operations: Methods and Equipment

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