Safety
FAA Updates Basis for Deicing Holdover Times
The agency's new guidance changes the calculations on ice deterrence effectiveness.
Business jet being deiced
(Photo: AIN)

In a recent information for operators (InFo), the FAA cautions flight crews and ground deicing service providers to refrain from using “Table B.2.4 Amount of Fluid for Anti-Icing with Thickened Fluids” published in SAE AS6286 (Revision B) as the basis for determining if the aircraft anti-icing fluid has been applied effectively.

According to the InFo, “expected holdover times (HOT) may not be achieved if the quantities provided in table B.2.4 are used as the basis for determining adequate coverage. Table B.2.4 does not reflect new fluid formulations that increase viscosity and fluid thicknesses, requiring greater volumes of anti-icing fluid (but improve HOTs).” Revision C of AS6286 was published in March 2023 and does not contain Table B.2.4.

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