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| How do you de-ice a plane? | How do you de-ice a plane? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Airport staff are battling freezing conditions to get snow-hit aircraft off the ground. So how do you defrost a Jumbo Jet? | Airport staff are battling freezing conditions to get snow-hit aircraft off the ground. So how do you defrost a Jumbo Jet? |
| To passengers stranded in Britain's snow-hit air terminals, it might sound like yet another source of delays and frustrations. | To passengers stranded in Britain's snow-hit air terminals, it might sound like yet another source of delays and frustrations. |
| But removing and preventing the build-up of ice on the wings and fuselage of an aircraft is absolutely crucial to preventing accidents, says David Learmount, operations and safety editor of Flight Global. | But removing and preventing the build-up of ice on the wings and fuselage of an aircraft is absolutely crucial to preventing accidents, says David Learmount, operations and safety editor of Flight Global. |
| The ice changes the shape and texture of the wings and their flaps, he says, creating a drag effect and making the aircraft impossible to control. "If there's too much ice, you leave the runway with not enough lift to get airborne." | |
| Because salt is corrosive to a plane's aluminium frames, he says, de-icing chemicals such as glycol are sprayed on its body before takeoff. | Because salt is corrosive to a plane's aluminium frames, he says, de-icing chemicals such as glycol are sprayed on its body before takeoff. |
| Glycol works like antifreeze in a car, reducing the freezing point of water to as low as minus 50C. | Glycol works like antifreeze in a car, reducing the freezing point of water to as low as minus 50C. |
| It is usually applied through high-pressure jets at temperatures as warm as 65C. And, says Mr Learmount, it will normally contain a coloured dye so that staff applying it can see they have not left any part of the plane out. | It is usually applied through high-pressure jets at temperatures as warm as 65C. And, says Mr Learmount, it will normally contain a coloured dye so that staff applying it can see they have not left any part of the plane out. |
| Special vehicles with a nozzle on the end of a hydraulic cab are used to reach all parts of the aircraft. | Special vehicles with a nozzle on the end of a hydraulic cab are used to reach all parts of the aircraft. |
| Usually a precautionary anti-icer solution - which helps prevent the build-up of ice - is applied after the de-icer. | Usually a precautionary anti-icer solution - which helps prevent the build-up of ice - is applied after the de-icer. |
| However, in very low temperatures, this may have little impact. | However, in very low temperatures, this may have little impact. |
| Jamie Bowden, an aviation analyst and former BA customer services manager, says the "hand-over time" between a plane being sprayed and it needing to take off before it freezes again can be as low as 20 minutes. | Jamie Bowden, an aviation analyst and former BA customer services manager, says the "hand-over time" between a plane being sprayed and it needing to take off before it freezes again can be as low as 20 minutes. |
| "They have to be de-iced relatively close to the take-off point," he says. "You can't just do it early in the morning if you're flying in the afternoon." | "They have to be de-iced relatively close to the take-off point," he says. "You can't just do it early in the morning if you're flying in the afternoon." |
| In a busy terminal like Heathrow, he adds, with a limited amount of de-icing equipment and hundreds of flights needing to be co-ordinated, this can create a logistical nightmare. | In a busy terminal like Heathrow, he adds, with a limited amount of de-icing equipment and hundreds of flights needing to be co-ordinated, this can create a logistical nightmare. |
| "I know from years of working in terminals that when the weather does change, you have no option but to shut the place down," he adds. | "I know from years of working in terminals that when the weather does change, you have no option but to shut the place down," he adds. |
| Although there are many reasons why airports close in this weather, such disruption is a source of irritation for passengers. But history suggests that it is better to be safe than sorry. | Although there are many reasons why airports close in this weather, such disruption is a source of irritation for passengers. But history suggests that it is better to be safe than sorry. |
| In January 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into a bridge shortly after take-off from Washington National Airport in Washington DC, killing 74 people. | In January 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into a bridge shortly after take-off from Washington National Airport in Washington DC, killing 74 people. |
| An investigation found that ice and snow had been sucked into the engines. | An investigation found that ice and snow had been sucked into the engines. |
| It also concluded that de-icing procedures had not been properly followed. | It also concluded that de-icing procedures had not been properly followed. |