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De-icing
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Interesting facts on de-icing
Your questions, our answers
Why, how and when are aircraft de-iced? Frequently asked questions on de-icing are listed here with the answers.
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Why do aircraft have to be de-iced?
Aircraft must be free of ice and snow before take-off because a build-up on the wings and control surfaces causes the aerodynamic properties to deteriorate. This means that the aircraft needs a longer take-off roll, for instance, which in turn delays lift-off and may even result in an abandoned take-off.
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Who decides whether an aircraft will be de-iced?
The decision to de-ice an aircraft is made by the responsible pilot. Related info:
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Is EFM the only de-icing company operating at Munich Airport?
Yes. The de-icing of aircraft at Munich Airport is the exclusive responsibility of EFM.
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What special features set the de-icing operations at Munich Airport apart?
- Special infrastructure and procedures
- Comprehensive environmental management
- State-of-the-art technology for de-icing vehicles and pads and recycling facilities
- One-man operation of all de-icing vehicles
- Special de-icing pads at runway heads
- De-icing with running engines
- Short de-icing times
- Repeat de-icing due to exceeded hold-over times is rarely required
- Used de-icing fluids are recovered and recycled to generate ready-to-use recyclate
- Up to 70 percent of recycling needs (Type I) are met with recycled fluids
- Reduced de-icing costs through recycling
- Heat from the recycling facility is used to heat the airport Related info:
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How many de-icing vehicles does EFM operate?
Our de-icing fleet consists of 24 vehicles, the so-called polar bears. We use three types of de-icing vehicles: the Elephant My, the Elephant Beta and the Elephant Beta-15.
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What aircraft types can EFM de-ice?
EFM is capable of de-icing all aircraft types – from Learjets to the Airbus A380.
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How many aircraft can EFM de-ice in an hour?
We can perform up to 68 de-icing operations per hour.
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What regulations apply to de-icing?
The Clean Aircraft Concept (ISO 11076) is mandatory for aircraft de-icing operations around the world. This standard stipulates that an aircraft can take off only after it is completely freed of frost, ice, snow and slush (de-icing) and adequately protected against the formation of new ice (anti-icing).
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Where are de-icing operations carried out?
At Munich Airport approximately 95 percent of all aircraft are de-iced just before take-off with their engines running at special de-icing pads (the remote areas) at the heads of the runways. There are three de-icing pads for each take-off direction on the north and south runways.
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What de-icing fluids does EFM use?
To de-ice aircraft, we spray glycol-based de-icing fluids onto the aircraft using de-icing vehicles. The thin Type I de-icing fluid is combined with water in a 55:45 mixture. It is heated and applied to the aircraft at a temperature of 85 °C. The thickener in Type IV de-icing fluid gives it a higher viscosity. It is sprayed onto the aircraft cold, and is not mixed.
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How long do de-icing fluids remain effective?
When an aircraft is sprayed with a de-icing fluid, it is protected against the formation of new ice for a certain time period, referred to as the hold-over time. Tables based on laboratory tests define hold-over times for the various de-icing fluids under different weather conditions.
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What happens to the used de-icing fluids?
As much of the sprayed de-icing fluid as possible is collected on the de-icing pads at the runway heads. It is treated at the airport's recycling facility to produce new recycling fluid.
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How much does de-icing cost?
For de-icing prices please refer to our price list.
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Price list
