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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 10:08 am
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hotwing
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
Winter Operations/De-icing Procedures

Why does the FAA and the airlines continue to use glycol (an 80 year old technology) to de-ice/anti-ice aircraft? (reference Kilfrost.com) After considering the improvements made in the electronics industry, it would seem cost effective to manufacture future aircraft with heating elements built into the airfoils and/or airframe thus bypassing the need to use any de-icing system. Wouldn't a heated wing/airframe meet the "clean aircraft" concept. Our national airspace system would be safer and more reliable. Our GDP would benefit with fewer missed meetings and overall stress on the traveling public. Does anybody know why the FAA. airlines, or aircraft manufacturers are not pursuing a type of heated wing/airframe?
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