Evaluation Of Environmentally Friendly, Glycol-Free Mobile Aircraft Deicing System

The U.S. military is evaluating environmentally friendly alternatives for aircraft deicing operations. Our goal is to prevent water and ground contamination while meeting mission flight requirements and enhancing safety. To address this goal a demonstration was performed in April 2002 at Eglin AFB, McKinley Climatic Chamber of a simulated integrated portable infrared and forced air/fluid assisted deicing with an ice imager. Such an integrated system may meet environmental standards, enhance safety, satisfy most military deicing requirements, and have commercial application. We plan to integrate these technologies, including an environmentally friendly deicing fluid, into a single unit for field testing during the winters of 2002-03 and 2003-04 at operational airfields. We compare deicing rates and environmental impacts using the simulated integrated deicing system versus a more traditional forced air/glycol deicing truck.