Mascmo From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 93 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 3 months 16 hours ago) and read 3405 times:
Do airlines rinse their wings or anywhere the de-icing agent has touched when they arrive at their next destination, or do they just wash the planes more often during the winter period? I know military planes get pulled into their hangar and get a quick rinse after they land so I was just wondering what steps airlines take if any.
OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (4 years 3 months 16 hours ago) and read 3271 times:
Quoting Cadet57 (Reply 2): If you're spraying water (im assuming) to clean a plane off after de-icing it, that would kind of defeat the purpose of de-icing, wouldn't it?
Also true, even at the destination, the aircraft may well be cold-soaked, and "rinsing" would also put ice right back on the aircraft. (Surface temperature at the destination is also a factor).
Bottom line is that if de-icing fluids were harmful to the aircraft and/or required "rinsing" to prevent damage, their use wouldn't be allowed.
If you're spraying water (im assuming) to clean a plane off after de-icing it, that would kind of defeat the purpose of de-icing, wouldn't it?
Yes after you pull it in the hangar I said, so that means after the flight or in the military case after they return to base get pulled in the hangar and rinsed off. I'm not saying deice it and then spray it with water right after I know that would be completely stupid!
Modesto2 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2634 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (4 years 3 months 9 hours ago) and read 3000 times:
Not on a regular basis. Aircraft surfaces will eventually "lose" de-icing fluid, and there's really no need to wash the aircraft regularly after fluid application. However, I wouldn't mind if they washed down the windshields, because the de-ice fluid generally leaves annoying marks that are tough to remove.
TristarSteve From Sweden, joined Nov 2005, 3693 posts, RR: 34 Reply 9, posted (4 years 3 months 2 hours ago) and read 2901 times:
Quoting Modesto2 (Reply 7): Aircraft surfaces will eventually "lose" de-icing fluid,
Yes but it takes time. When a deiced aircraft arrives at the next stop, the deicing fluid is still dripping off the aircraft. Can't count the number of times that I have been called out to inspect a fuel leak, and it was deicing fluid. I t comes out of the flap fairings, and the Stabiliser area after landing.
Our aircraft are washed all the year round. They stop if the temp goes below freezing but there is a dedicated wash team and their aim is to wash every aircraft every two months.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (4 years 3 months ago) and read 2864 times:
Quoting DescendVia (Reply 5): What hanger? Most airplanes at major airlines only go inside a hanger every 4 years when they get a D check.
First it's Hangar with an A.... second planes see them far more then that.... several times a year for their scheduled Inspections.
Quoting Mascmo (Thread starter): Do airlines rinse their wings or anywhere the de-icing agent has touched when they arrive at their next destination, or do they just wash the planes more often during the winter period?
No.. in most cases no extra effort is taken in the winter month. Glycol is really not a worry anyway as it causes damage. The down side... when it comes in the hangar for inspection and they lower the flaps, if your not careful... you can get it all over you.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2810 times:
Quoting TristarSteve (Reply 9): They stop if the temp goes below freezing but there is a dedicated wash team and their aim is to wash every aircraft every two months
Just curious....Do the washing get done on line or in a allotted space with drainage facility.
regds
MEL.
Windy95 From United States of America, joined Dec 2008, 2556 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2698 times:
Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 11): Just curious....Do the washing get done on line or in a allotted space with drainage facility.
Nowadays with the EPA rules the waste water has to be captured from the wash. In the old days that was not a worry. The same can be said for deicing fluid.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 13, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2673 times:
Quoting DescendVia (Reply 5): What hanger? Most airplanes at major airlines only go inside a hanger every 4 years when they get a D check.
First, Hangar, not hanger. Planes do go to the hangar on RON for A-checks and B checks as well. C-Checks are done in the hangar, always. And you're spot on about the D's. Don't forget the S checks for Airbuses.
De-ice fluid stays on pretty much the whole day. They do wear off while inflight during the course of the aircraft's rotation for the entire day.
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