For Release: December 2018
Wichita, KS— Well color us orange and green this winter! What the heck are you talking about? Christmas colors are red and green. While that may be true, we are talking about “Aircraft Deicing and Anti-icing.” Here at Yingling Aviation, we are the only independent company that offers this essential service to the Airlines and General Aviation.
As winter arrives, the airport fleet of de-icing trucks drives around the plane spraying de-icing fluid on the wings before the take-off. Do you know how the de-icing liquid on the plane actually works? The main goal of de-icing is to ensure that the aircraft’s critical surface is free from frost, ice, snow, and all the frozen contaminants after the procedure. The aircraft critical surface areas include the wings, the tail, the nose, where radar equipment sits, the horizontal stabilizers and the vertical stabilizer. When the aircraft is completely free of contamination the take-off and landing will be safe.
The ice and the snow on the aircraft fuselage not only add extra weight but also disturb the flow of air, which reduces lift. Moreover, frozen contaminants can also disrupt the movement of the wing flaps and ailerons.
There are four types of de-icing fluids but we use Type I and Type IV at KICT.
Type I fluid is combined with water and provides only short-term protection because it quickly flows off the aircraft surfaces after use. It is sprayed on hot, 130–180 °F, and at high pressure to remove snow, ice, and frost. It is also dyed orange to aid in identification and application.
Type IV has a higher viscosity and is not mixed with water. It is also put on to the surface cold. This fluid protects the critical surfaces of the aircraft from the accumulation of frozen precipitation while the plane is waiting to take off. Type IV must be applied onto a clean surface, not contaminated by snow, ice, or other contaminants.
Why de-icing fluid is of different colors? These different colors help to distinguish them more easily. Also, they make it possible to see which parts of the surface have been covered with the fluids.
So if you wondered a little about the deicing process while sitting in an airplane waiting to take off, this gives you a little insight to the deicing process. One of the many interesting and important services Yingling Aviation offers. Call us on Unicom frequency 129.925 so we can paint you our aviation Christmas colors.
Dennis Simmons, Customer Service and Line Operations Director