No, the thick green stuff does get applied some time before and if you take a very early flight from Heathrow after a cold winter night you will often see it on the wings of all the planes on stand. This de-icing fluid is also interesting since it stays on until you take-off, so it will only come off the aircraft as you accelerate down the runway.
Last edited by KARFA; Apr 26, 2016 at 3:00 am
Reason: Clarification on timing