De-Icing a Boeing 777 Costs Airlines Thousands per Application
The de-icing process for a widebody jet like the Boeing 777-300ER uses hundreds of gallons of heated glycol fluid and can cost thousands of dollars each time, according to Simple Flying.
When temperatures drop below freezing at airports in the northern US, Canada, and Europe, aircraft cannot take off until all ice, snow, and frost is removed from wings, tail, and control surfaces. The FAA's clean aircraft concept requires this.
Specialized trucks spray heated glycol-based fluid onto the plane at high pressure. A thicker anti-icing coating is then applied to protect surfaces while the aircraft taxis to the runway.
For a Boeing 777-300ER, with a wingspan of 64.8 meters and over 427.8 square meters of wing area, the process uses hundreds of gallons of fluid. It costs thousands of dollars per application.
Sources
- simpleflying.comHow Much Does It Cost An Airline To De-Ice A Boeing 777?