In winter, extreme weather conditions put the continuity of French airport operations to the test. Whether it’s frost, snow or ice, keeping flights safe requires a rigorous chain of technical interventions, in which aircraft de-icing plays a key role.
De-icing is a regulatory requirement included in aviation safety protocols: an aircraft whose critical surfaces are contaminated by ice or snow loses part of its lift, increasing the risks on take-off.
Every winter, French airports, in coordination with airlines and ground handling companies, deploy technical and human resources calibrated to deal with these risks.
A standardised process under time pressure
Aircraft de-icing follows a precise procedure, harmonised at international level. It consists of one or two stages, depending on the weather conditions:
- Remedial defrosting: the teams apply a de-icing fluid, made up of a mixture of hot water and glycol in varying concentrations, designed to remove the layer of frost or snow on the appliance and ensure a protection time of a few minutes to a few tens of minutes.
- Preventive anti-icing: if icing conditions are known in advance or if precipitation continues (snow or freezing rain), a second fluid with a higher glycol concentration is applied. Its viscosity forms a protective film that prevents contamination of the treated surfaces for up to several hours.
Operations must be carried out within a narrow time window. A Hold Over Time defined by the nature of the fluid, the outside temperature and the intensity of the precipitation, ensures that the aircraft remains free of contamination between the end of the treatment and take-off. If this time is exceeded, the aircraft must return to the de-icing area.
In France, configurations differ from one hub to another. At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, de-icing operations take place in dedicated areas near the runways, optimising coordination with air traffic control. At Paris-Orly and other regional hubs, de-icing is often carried out directly at the parking stands, under the responsibility of the airlines or their ground handlers.
Cross-industry coordination and anticipation
De-icing cannot be improvised: it is part of the wider framework of snow plans drawn up at the end of the summer season. These plans specify the responsibilities of each player (airport managers, airlines, ground handlers, civil aviation authorities), define the weather alert chains and organise full-scale simulation exercises.
These training sessions are crucial to ensuring smooth exchanges between :
- The de-icing teams, responsible for treating the aircraft.
- Snow clearing teams, responsible for keeping runways, taxiways and aprons operational.
- Air traffic control, which authorises movements.
- Airlines that adjust their schedules according to conditions.
” The performance of winter operations depends on perfect synchronisation between all the links in the airport chain, from aircraft handling to authorisation for take-off “, emphasises Bruno Chanet, Operations Director for the 3S Alyzia Group, which is responsible for de-icing at CDG as a sub-contractor for ADP.
A technological shift to meet environmental challenges
A number of technological innovations now make it possible to reconcile operational performance with environmental commitment:
- Hybrid de-icers: deployed on several major French platforms, this equipment can operate in electric mode when applying fluids, significantly reducing fuel consumption.
- Optimised spray nozzles: new spraying systems provide more even coverage of critical surfaces, reducing fluid losses.
- The use of de-icers fitted with mixing systems that allow glycol concentration levels to be adapted to the winter conditions of the day, means that volumes of de-icing fluids can be considerably reduced.
- Optimised management of stocks and flows: digital tools make it possible to monitor consumption in real time, adjust supplies and avoid wastage.
- The trial use of HVO biofuel: made from hydrotreated vegetable oil produced from non-food raw materials, this biofuel is starting to be used to power vehicles at Orly airport.
Training, the key to responsiveness
While equipment and technologies are evolving, team training remains a key success factor before the start of the winter season. After six months of inactivity during the summer season, only training on a simulator and on equipment in real conditions can bring skills up to scratch and prepare teams for snowy spells.
In France, airport managers and ground handling service providers invest every year in :
- Initial training sessions for de-icing operators.
- Simulation exercises in real-life conditions.
- Virtual simulation, using simulators to reproduce extreme weather conditions.
These systems ensure that our teams continue to develop their skills, while strengthening their ability to take rapid, appropriate decisions in the face of unforeseen weather situations.
French expertise in aviation safety
Against a backdrop of climate change, where snow events are less frequent but potentially more intense and unpredictable during the six months of the winter season, the ability of French airport operators to anticipate and adapt is a real performance driver.
De-icing, far from being a simple technical operation, embodies the sector’s collective ability to guarantee the safety, fluidity and environmental responsibility of air transport, even in the harshest winters.
This article is the result of a working group conducted with the 3S Alyzia Group, under the guidance of Bruno Chanet, Operations Director for the 3S Alyzia Group at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Photo credits: Sébastien Aubry, Hannah Courseaux, Julie Leblond and © ADP Group