Winter operations

The number one concern this time of year is icing and deicing operations. If you’re new (or soon to be new) to the airlines, spend some time learning as much as you can absorb about deicing operations. It’s one thing to learn the academic concepts in your early training, but most of the time, bad winter weather in the general aviation world will simply lead to a cancelation and some time on the sofa watching Netflix. However, in the turbine world, icing and winter ops take on a new normal, and you’re expected to make every effort to fly.

There are different approved methods for dealing with ice and frost, depending on the carrier, the manufacturer, and even the model of airplane. The general procedure for ice on an airplane, but with no falling precipitation, is to treat it with Type 1 fluid. It’s common to see airliners dripping from Type 1 at the gate prior to the first flight of the morning. Station personnel are trained in determining when they can expect Type 1 to be enough to deice without having to worry about a re-deice event later.

Falling precip is most often addressed with Type 4 fluid after the airplane has been cleared of ice. Type 4 is a thick, gooey heated fluid that has a fairly long holdover time (depending on current weather conditions). It’s also the most expensive, so airlines prefer it not be used unless it’s necessary. That said, it’s never questioned when the crew asks for it. Another item to remember about Type 4 fluid is that if you’re in an airplane with heated wings (most jets), you can’t use the heat until right before or right after takeoff, because it will compromise the integrity of the fluid.

Once you’re underway, especially if there is rain or snow, it’s critical to keep an eye on those parts of the airplane that you can see, so that you can ascertain whether the fluid is still working or more ice is starting to stick. This exact procedure will again vary based on the carrier and/or airplane. The challenge is magnified due to the shorter days and longer periods of darkness.

Winter operations can be frustrating, because the wait for a slot in the deice pad can be long and boring. Taxiing on deicing fluid isn’t a lot of fun either, because the tires slip and slide too easily. The list of rules and limitations seems to be endless and very—for lack of a better term—nit-noidy. That said, it’s part of the gig, and it’s worth the effort when you’re heading someplace warm or you know that you have gotten people where they need to go in spite of the challenges.

And then, just as you think you’re getting the hang of it, it’s time to get ready for spring thunderstorms!