Chapter 3 - Deicing/Anti-icing Fluids - Deicing and Anti-icing of Aircraft

De/Anti-Icing

4.  Deicing is a procedure by which frost, ice, snow or slush (i.e. the frozen contamination) is removed from an aircraft by use of a heated aircraft deicing fluid (ADF), to provide clean surfaces. Anti-icing is a procedure in which an aircraft anti-icing fluid (AAF) is applied to a surface free of frozen contaminants in order to protect the surface from the accumulation of frozen contaminants for a limited period of time.

5.  During flight operations under icy conditions, any frost, snow or ice on a critical surface of an aircraft must be removed prior to departure. Large aircraft operating from major airports such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax are de-iced and anti-iced immediately prior to take-off at a central deicing facility (CDF) located on the airport. Deicing Operators normally operates these facilities.

6.  Aircraft operating from smaller regional airports are generally de-iced by company personnel, or in some cases directly by the pilot of the aircraft, using a pressure sprayer containing an approved deicing fluid. Aircraft must be deiced shortly prior to take-off. When operating under icing conditions from sites not equipped with a CDF, aircraft operators are responsible for carrying the appropriate anti-icing and deicing equipment on board the aircraft or store the equipment at the airport. If conditions are too severe, pilots are required not to attempt a take-off.

7.  Transport Canada has an extensive research program dealing with a wide range of projects including deicing and in-flight icing hazards. Transport Canada also participates actively in several Canadian and international committees working to further improve deicing and anti-icing products and procedures.

8.  For instance, Transport Canada is one of many partners in the Alliance Icing Research Study project led by the National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research, Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada and NASA's Glenn Research Centre. The project is examining technology designed to detect aircraft icing on the ground and in the air.

9.  Transport Canada continues to raise awareness within the civil aviation community on the hazards of flying with ice and snow adhering to aircraft wings and on flying into icy conditions. Awareness is raised through products such as videos, safety seminars and articles in aviation safety publications.

10.  As stated before, CARs 602.11 (1) and (2) prohibit take-off when frost, ice or snow is adhering to any critical surface of the aircraft. This "Clean Aircraft Concept" is essential to the maintenance of flight safety. In all aviation operations, the PIC has the ultimate responsibility to determine if the aircraft is in a condition for safe flight.

11.  The requirement for the PIC to determine that all critical surfaces of the aircraft are free of frost, ice or snow contamination may be met if, the PIC obtains verification from properly trained and qualified personnel that the aircraft is ready for flight.