New technologies are delivering faster, safer and more sustainable operations across airports of all sizes. Recent developments range from sophisticated de-icing pads and automated systems to fluid recycling systems and improved waste management.
Netherlands-based TKH Airport Solutions has created technology to simplify the co-ordination of service vehicles and aeroplanes on de-icing pads. Its SmartPad Control Center incorporates electronic message boards (EMB) engineered to work seamlessly with optical guidance systems and inset and safety zone illumination equipment. The SmartPad integrates airport lighting and EMB into an automated de-icing environment by using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to identify and guide aircraft movements. “The system is scalable, adaptable and flexible to meet the unique requirements of every client,” the company said. “EMBs have a noticeable effect on reducing the time for the entire de-icing process, [which demonstrates] the dedication to improving aircraft positioning, especially when the engines are running during de-icing procedures.” The technology has been installed in a centralised de-icing facility at Memphis International Airport, Tennessee. The busy US airport is home to the FedEx Express global hub, and the use of the SmartPad reduces the waiting times for aircraft as well as decreasing the need for radio communications during the de-icing process.
TKH’s SmartPad integrates airport lighting and EMB into an automated de-icing environment
De-icing robots
In Norway, Avinxt (formerly known as MSG Aviation) is rolling out a de-icing robot backed by artificial intelligence (AI) technology at Avinor’s Oslo Airport (OSL). The robot is replacing the current labour-intensive and time-consuming manual de-icing processes, while also offering aircraft washing, engine cleaning and technical inspections. For airlines, the benefits include reduced operational costs, faster turnaround times and lower carbon emissions. Avinxt worked with Avinor for several years on the project. The technology is designed to service both single-aisle and twin-aisle aircraft, with the robot using advanced AI software to remove snow and ice, clean aircraft surfaces and perform technical checks. The robot has demonstrated that it can be integrated into the busy traffic flow at OSL, and can function efficiently even during peak travel times, when de-icing demand is highest.
“We are very pleased to announce that we can now start the building of the world’s largest and first robot exclusively constructed for de-icing, washing, engine washing and technical inspection of aircraft at OSL. Together with OSL, we have found the best solution that ensures safe and efficient operations,” said CEO and major shareholder of Avinxt Ove Trøen at the announcement of the project. “There is no reason why airlines should continue with manual, time-consuming and expensive processes, when we can do it faster, better, more environmentally friendly and more cost-effectively, by using new technology. We can contribute to the airlines improving their efficiency and on-time performance, while saving money on fuel and reducing emissions.”
Smooth winter operation is essential at Lapland’s Ivalo Airport
Additional potential
Avinxt has also signed a letter of intent with Luftforsvaret, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, which will see the Air Force test the automated robotics solution for de-ice and wash on its fleet of aircraft at airports in Norway. Trøen added: “This is a breakthrough for us and proof that there is a great need for our services from airports, commercial airlines, military aviation and companies that offer ground services.” The company has also partnered with 8tree, a developer of 3D surface inspection systems, to integrate its dentCHECK platform into Avinxt’s robotic technology to enable 3D inspection of aircraft. DentCHECK is the world’s only handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated augmented reality (AR) that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry. “The system performs aircraft surface inspections with extreme precision within a few hours, compared to manual processes that take several weeks. We believe this service will be in high demand from airlines and leasing companies as it will significantly reduce costs,” said Trøen.
Erik Klaas, CTO and co-founder of Konstanz-based 8tree, added: “Never before was it possible to automate aircraft inspection to this degree. We see a big potential not only in the case of hail damage assessment on the entire aircraft, but also in cases where the aircraft changes ownership. This has always been an area with lots of debate, which now can be resolved with an objective and quick process.”
Airpro has ordered four Elephant e-BETA de-icers from Vestergaard
Recycling and reusing
Nordic neighbour Finland is also demonstrating how sustainability and efficiency go hand-in-hand when it comes to streamlining de-icing processes.
Petri Vuori, Finavia’s senior vice-president for route development, said the de-icing season in his home nation lasted five months, a fact that has made the airport operator a world leader in winter operations.
“For this winter, ground handling companies have added more equipment, and we are also building a recycling facility so we can reuse most of the de-icing fluid,” he explained.
Finavia introduced recycled propylene glycol for aircraft de-icing at Helsinki Airport in November 2023. While glycol is not classified as hazardous, it causes an environmental load on waterways by increasing oxygen consumption, and also causes odours.
Helsinki Airport expects to use 500 tonnes of recycled propylene glycol for de-icing this winter, and the switch to recycled fluid is expected to cut emissions by around 1,500 tonnes a year. The recycled fluid is processed by Clariant, a chemical company based in Rauma, Finland. It is manufactured to meet the same high standards as new propylene glycol, ensuring that the recycled product performs just as effectively in removing ice from aircraft.
Delta runs an annual boot camp to ensure employees are au fait with the latest de-icing equipment
While the recycled glycol is sourced from outside the airport for the time being, Finavia has explored opportunities to use glycol recycled at the airport. “The recycled propylene glycol is manufactured to match the quality of new de-icing fluid entirely, and it is a more ecological alternative,” said Finavia vice-president Jani Elasmaa, who is responsible for apron and runway operations at Helsinki Airport.
The initiative not only helps the airport lower its environmental footprint, but also reduces the need for transporting and producing new de-icing fluid, further contributing to overall carbon reduction. The used de-icing fluid is collected with vacuum trucks and separate apron drainage systems, from which the fluid is delivered for further treatment at a wastewater treatment plant. The fluid is used as an alternative carbon source, replacing methanol in the denitrification process, which is a sustainable way to dispose of the used fluid. According to Finavia’s latest environmental report, the glycol collection rate stood at 92% at Helsinki (for winter 2022/23), 55% at Oulu, 22% at Kuopio, 83% at Jyväskylä, 38% at Tampere-Pirkkala and 20% at Turku.
Finavia has opted for winter equipment that can be used for maintenance as well as de-icing
Double-mixing
Working with Finavia, Airpro has pioneered the reduction of pure propylene glycol in de-icing mixers, leading to a significantly lower environmental impact. In 2023, Airpro acquired a double-mix feature for some of the de-icing units at Helsinki Airport. The feature allows not only mixing Type I, but also mixing of Type IV fluid. Henri Suurnäkki, director of ground services at Airpro, said: “Our nationwide network supports de-icing operations both in Helsinki and at domestic network stations. Our network covers 11 airports in Finland, employing more than 250 de-icing professionals.” The company has also purchased modern electric de-icing vehicles for use at its facility in the Finnish capital, with an order with Denmark-based Vestergaard Company for four Elephant e-BETA de-icers.
Tuffa de-icer tanks were designed for airports with a small footprint
In the future, Finavia hopes to use self-collected and recycled propylene glycol for aircraft de-icing and anti-icing at Helsinki Airport. Recycled fluid is already in use at other airports in Scandinavia, in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and Finavia VP Elasmaa believes the use of recycled fluid will increase in the coming years. “Our goal is to build the necessary infrastructure, so that in the future, we can recycle propylene glycol used here at Helsinki Airport,” he said.
Construction of a storage pool for glycol-containing water at Kittilä International Airport in the north of the country will further aid this goal. Finavia’s approach is proof that innovation within the de-icing sector is not limited to major hub airports where existing infrastructure is often more developed
The Canadian flag carrier has pioneered a number of winter flying safety measures
Portable solutions
Elsewhere, Canadian firm Wing Armor has introduced a towable system designed for efficient aircraft de-icing at smaller airports, including regional and gravel airstrips. The company’s Jetstream de-icer has a Type I fluid capacity of 200 gallons (US) and a powerful heating system (400,000 BTU) that is powered by a 12HP Honda GX390 engine. The unit has an element that pre-heats the de-icing fluid to 40°C for quick startups in case of sudden de-icing needs. It can then heat the de-icing fluid quickly to 80°C and deliver it at a rate of three to four gallons per minute. Large tubeless tyres and a lightweight tow bar make the Jetstream easy to manoeuvre on any surface. Wing Armor says the equipment is designed to “fit in and be flown by a de Havilland Dash-8 aircraft to some of the world’s most remote airports”, helping to meet the challenge of winter operations in more isolated locations.
There is no reason why airlines should continue with manual, time-consuming and expensive processes, when we can do it faster, better and more cost-effectively
At Manchester Airport in the UK, Tuffa Tanks have been used as part of a de-icing fluid storage and processing system. The notable innovation here is that the system is portable once drained and can be lifted using a flatbed vehicle fitted with a lorry-mounted crane. The de-icer tank supply and installation were specified and project managed by Air Consultancy, a specialist in aircraft ground de-icing services. The seven de-icing tanks, made from durable polyethylene, have been designed to withstand prolonged exposure to de-icing chemicals. These tanks are interconnected to maximise storage, with five of the 15,000-litre units designated for holding concentrated de-icing fluid, while the other two 15,000-litre tanks store pre-mixed fluid, processed by the modular system. Altogether, the setup offers a total storage capacity of 140,000 litres, including both concentrated and pre-mixed solutions, ensuring ample supply for efficient de-icing operations. Air Consultancy’s Martin Sixsmith explained: “The ability to lift and relocate the de-icer tanks within their structural framework and base was particularly useful. We drained and re-located the entire series of seven de-icer tanks…when the existing de-icer site had to be relocated due to the construction works for the expansion of Terminal 2. Despite the space restrictions of the new site, typical of an airport compound, the design of the Tuffa de-icer tanks allows them to be positioned within a small footprint ready to supply the rigs. The Tuffa de-icer tanks helped to make sure that Manchester was ready for take-off.”
De-Ice applies tape-like strips like these to the exterior of the aircraft
Technological advances
Recent advances in de-icing technology are also helping improve the safety of winter operations. Avtura’s AV D-ICE software aims to safeguard aircraft de-icing operations by recording all activities within the process, using image capture, and automatically updating the operations system and the aircraft flight deck. For example, Fluid Manager, a component of AV D-ICE, provides accurate tracking of fluid usage in storage tanks and rigs or trucks, allowing de-icing providers and airports to make informed decisions about fluid delivery and reordering. Meanwhile, the AV D-ICE PAD function is designed to provide efficient management of de-icing operations at a centralised facility or pad area, with real-time situational awareness ensuring optimal sequencing of aircraft de-icing activities.
Another development in the industry is the shift toward infrared heating, which enables faster ice removal by applying heat directly to the aircraft’s surface, offering an alternative to traditional chemical de-icing approaches. De-Ice, a company pioneering sustainable aircraft de-icing with this electromagnetic technology, recently announced Air Canada as the first airline to install its system on an Airbus A320 series aircraft over the 2023/24 winter, with plans to expand to other aircraft types. At present, de-icing with chemical sprays can delay flights by 30 to 45 minutes, but De-Ice aims to significantly reduce these delays while cutting down the environmental impact associated with chemical de-icing.
Air Canada will be the launch partner for the new De-Ice technology
Faster and greener
Founded in 2015 by Alexander Bratianu-Badea and Ruben Toubiana, De-Ice emerged from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to find a faster, greener solution. The team has since developed a system that uses high-frequency electric currents to melt ice on aircraft, eliminating the need for chemical sprays and significantly lowering carbon emissions. The technique consists of thin strips that are applied to the aircraft’s exterior, while simultaneously being connected to the internal electronics. When activated, the technology generates a current that produces heat, melting snow and ice during the boarding process, and ensuring the aircraft is ice-free by taxi. “De-Ice is proud to introduce our product to the world with Air Canada,” said Bratianu-Badea. “Flight delays and the excess carbon emissions caused by chemical-based de-icing will be a thing of the past.”
Utilising advanced gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, the system is lightweight and highly efficient, overcoming the limitations of traditional silicon-based technologies. De-Ice has also introduced several innovations in power electronics to make this system feasible for commercial use.
The new solution uses a high-frequency current to heat the aircraft, keeping it ice-free
Murray Strom, senior vice-president, flight operations and maintenance at Air Canada, said: “Not only will De-Ice technology be positive for our customers by reducing delays related to the conventional method of aircraft ice removal, but the environmental benefits of chemical-free de-icing and associated lower fuel consumption are in line with Air Canada’s commitment to a net-zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050.
“We have long been an innovative company, having pioneered many winter flying safety measures, and we are proud to be the first airline in the world that will install this technology, which will be the first major advancement in de-icing technology in decades.”
Menzies Aviation uses a Vestergaard de-icer
Icephobic coatings
There are also those who are working on innovations that will reduce the risk of ice build-up in the first place. Various studies have pointed to the efficacy of icephobic coatings that can be applied to aircraft, repelling water droplets and reducing ice adhesion. In 2016, a group of experts from Europe and Canada launched the PHOBIC2ICE project, aiming to create cutting-edge solutions to prevent ice formation on aircraft. The project focused on developing and testing a range of advanced coatings – polymeric, metallic and hybrid – designed to resist ice build-up. These ice-repellent coatings were applied to five key materials commonly used in aviation: aluminium and titanium alloys, stainless steel, carbon-epoxy composites and polyamide.
The research was divided into three main areas: initial studies on surface properties and adhesion, advanced testing under ice-forming conditions, and practical evaluations of how well these coatings withstand real-world factors like corrosion and UV exposure. The goal was to ensure that the coatings were both effective and durable in harsh environmental conditions. “The most effective coatings worked to repel as much water droplets as possible before freezing (superhydrophobicity), or by reducing the adhesiveness of formed ice to the surface,” said Dr Elmar Bonaccurso, from Airbus in Germany, PHOBIC2ICE team leader responsible for the development of industry requirements (use cases) and testing protocols. It is hoped the findings will help define the future of aircraft de-icing.
This de-icing robot can also undertake aircraft washing, engine cleaning and technical inspections
