Interim Report - Introduction - EASA

INTERIM REPORT – DATA SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
EASA.2009.OP.21
According to the interviewed aerodromes and service providers, the total cost of fluids for
providing one-step or two-step de-icing / anti-icing procedures is similar. This is because,
while the cost of neat Type I fluid is higher than thickened fluids, it is more efficient as a deicing
fluid, and is also frequently used in a more diluted form than thickened fluids; therefore
the cost is about the same. Consequently, there is no additional increased cost of fluids for
the airline, besides the initial investment for upgrading the infrastructure, facilities and
equipment.
Numerous arguments have been provided by the stakeholders through interviews regarding
the operational benefits of providing a two step de-icing / anti-icing procedure with Type I
fluids (applied heated) for de-icing and thickened fluids (applied cold) for anti-icing, namely:
− The ease of storage, mixing and testing Type I fluid and its low risk of degradation
when compared to thickened fluids.
− The ease of using (in a second step) “cold” thickened fluids. First, it avoids
unnecessary heating of fluid in vehicle tanks, or repeated heating of fluids which may
degrade fluids. Secondly, the use of cold thickened fluids ensures a more accurate
HoT; the heating of thickened fluids reduces their viscosity, thereby decreasing the
fluid’s ability to absorb the quantity of precipitation as assumed in HoT tables.
2.1.7.2 Limiting factors
No Influence Slight influence Moderate influence Large Influence Total influence
Airline preference for Type II/IV fluids
Economic factors
Not enough airline demand
No airline demand
Inadequate de/anti-icing truck capability/capacity
Inadequate environmental protection
Insufficient time / Operational throughput demands
Insufficient De/Anti-icing personnel
Inadequate Fluid storage infrastructure and facilities
Environmental Regulatory restriction
Restricted Location and/or availability of de/anti-icing areas
airsight GmbH - 12 -
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Figure 10: Limiting factors which influence the decision not to provide Type I fluid and
two step de-icing / anti-icing
According to the service providers, the main limiting factor to providing Type I fluid and twostep
de-icing / anti-icing is the “airline preferences for thickened fluids”, directly resulting in
too little or no airline demand for changing fluids and methods. For approximately 40% of the