De-icing the plane...

[IzzieK]

On our way out of St. Louis (MO) our plane has to go on an de-icing process for 20 minutes. Just a few shots from my P&S...Comments and/or critiques all welcome. Please note that this is not for publication so be gentle with me...

[gregj1763]

Great photo's of a guy doing it tough Isabel.
Whatever he is paid, it's not enough.
You would never get my wife Cindy in a plane in those conditions. She panics at the slightest sign of bad weather

[Shadowman]

Isabel,

What's even more unsettling is when they have to burn off fuel prior to take off. I feel so much more comfortable with all that extra fuel. I know it makes it easier to land but once you've had to hover over an airport, not being able to land because of thunderstorms, only to have to redirect to another airport because fuel has run low....

Oh, by the way nice series.

[John 2]

Interesting series Isabel. Did they de-ice the runway as well? That's what always concerns me.

[Jim35010]

Love the photos and topic. I would like to reply to the concerns about the flying conditions as a retired pilot. First they do deice the runways just like they deice highways, but when the planes take off there is a lot of heat generated behind them, which helps also. Most planes of any size have heated brakes, but this is usually for taxiing purposes. They have guide lines for the amount of fuel they can carry, such as the ability to fly to a given destination at normal cruise then fly to an alternate plus so much time after that. All this is considered at "normal cruise" if the pilot reduces power this extends that time. The fuel burn prior to take off is to meet the requirements for takeoff only, to allow the airplane to accelerate to speed then stop on the same runway. All considered for safety plus safety margins.
Sorry for getting off the deice photos topic, but just couldn't help myself!
Jim

[Bobobird]

Good series Isabel. We tend to moan and groan because the process usually leads to delayed departures but it is important. I like #1 best from a pic point of view.

[Wavelength]

I really like the images and wave effect created by the wet glass; for a photographer there is always some opportunity, where ever he/she is....

Regards

[IzzieK]

Great photo's of a guy doing it tough Isabel.
Whatever he is paid, it's not enough.
You would never get my wife Cindy in a plane in those conditions. She panics at the slightest sign of bad weather

That trip wasn't really that bad, Greg. We had an 8-hour stopover in LA after this flight and booked a day hotel downtown for $54. (You know those nice hotel that no matter what time you booked in, they shoo you out at 8PM?) Anyway, we boarded an A380 to Melbourne and encountered a turbulence for straight 45 minutes. The pilot was really trying to fly higher (he was flying IFR at the time), apologizing to all of us. When a pilot apologized to his passengers, that was the time to panic but the two kids up front (of us) thought it was a hoot rocking the plane like that for so long.... Anyway, he did managed to get us up to higher clouds after.

[IzzieK]

Isabel,

What's even more unsettling is when they have to burn off fuel prior to take off. I feel so much more comfortable with all that extra fuel. I know it makes it easier to land but once you've had to hover over an airport, not being able to land because of thunderstorms, only to have to redirect to another airport because fuel has run low....

Oh, by the way nice series.

John....Extra fuel for those are included in the equation before flight. That is what pre-flight checks are for....And the expense of fuel is included in the cost of your flight.

[IzzieK]

Interesting series Isabel. Did they de-ice the runway as well? That's what always concerns me.

See Jim's explanation below...but they do plow the exit gates. Here, I caught one of the two baby snow plows and a Daddy snowplow doing their service to society...
Daddy snowplow

Baby snowplow

[IzzieK]

Not to worry, Jim...if you did not put in your piece, I would have to wake my husband up and ask him. He is not a very good responder before his second cup of coffee in the morning... Thank you for your input. My husband is also an ex-pilot (from AA) His career (and hobby) revolves around airplanes. I -- am just a mere passenger but I do get to keep the terminologies so I can understand what he is referring to when we have a conversation around that area.

Love the photos and topic. I would like to reply to the concerns about the flying conditions as a retired pilot. First they do deice the runways just like they deice highways, but when the planes take off there is a lot of heat generated behind them, which helps also. Most planes of any size have heated brakes, but this is usually for taxiing purposes. They have guide lines for the amount of fuel they can carry, such as the ability to fly to a given destination at normal cruise then fly to an alternate plus so much time after that. All this is considered at "normal cruise" if the pilot reduces power this extends that time. The fuel burn prior to take off is to meet the requirements for takeoff only, to allow the airplane to accelerate to speed then stop on the same runway. All considered for safety plus safety margins.
Sorry for getting off the deice photos topic, but just couldn't help myself!
Jim

[IzzieK]

Bobo...the reason I uploaded this series is because of #1. I thought it was a great piece of art with all those orangy yucky de-icing chemicals. And the ground ice that turned to the same colour was equally disgustingly beautiful. Thanks for looking.

Good series Isabel. We tend to moan and groan because the process usually leads to delayed departures but it is important. I like #1 best from a pic point of view.

[IzzieK]

I really like the images and wave effect created by the wet glass; for a photographer there is always some opportunity, where ever he/she is....
Regards

I did not do this very well..but here is one I have of wavy glass...it almost look comical...

[bnnrcn]

Hi Isabel,I like the background story and I most like #1 and baby snowplow

[deetheturk]

Cool images Izzie,or should I say freezing ,looks a bit scarey to me

[Ken MT]

Got interested in the link, as to what was the colour in #1
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...d.main/250125/

[FootLoose]

Great thread, Izzy, I had no idea about de-icing planes. I like the first shot.

[IzzieK]

Great thread, Izzy, I had no idea about de-icing planes. I like the first shot.

When the pilot said we are just waiting for the other plane to be de-ice we can hear a loud noise even on our side of the plane. When it came our turn the noise was even louder and so all those smokes as the de-icer guy removed the ice off the surface of plane...

Removing snow at our side of the plane -- see the smoke? This was the photo before the #1 after the snow was removed, then the de-icing began...


Removing snow at the other side of the plane at the back

[IzzieK]

Cool images Izzie,or should I say freezing ,looks a bit scarey to me

I am just about tired of freezing, David...we were told yesterday that we have two more weeks of "Freezing" temperature. The Canadians are unrelenting in sharing their weather with us. If I had known, I would have stayed back in Melbourne for another three weeks...