Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
High risk of tropical development off US Atlantic coast. Get details Chevron right
Storms to spark on July 4th in parts of the Plains and Southeast. Click here Chevron right

Columbus, OH

85°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

85°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

Why it's so critical to deice planes prior to takeoff

Ice isn’t just an aggravation for drivers on roadways. The formation of ice on airplanes is equally dangerous, making the removal of any buildup critical.

By Ashley Williams, AccuWeather staff writer

Copied

During major winter events, the need to remove icy buildup is obvious. Find out the process behind deicing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

During the chilly winter months in which snowy and icy conditions are common in colder climates, air travelers may notice ice accumulation being blown off their aircraft while they patiently wait on board for takeoff.

It’s an essential process in aircraft safety, as ice buildup can hinder a plane’s ability to fly smoothly and safely.

“Snow, ice and frost change the shape of the wing and tail and their ability to generate lift – the force that allows an airplane to fly – and increase weight and drag – the forces an airplane must overcome in order to fly,” said William Herp, a pilot and the CEO of regional air charter online marketplace Linear Airline Taxi.

Therefore, it’s critical that these contaminants be removed prior to takeoff, Herp said.

The presence of ice alters the smooth airflow over the wings, according to Brett Manders, international airline pilot and author of the book, “Behind the Flight Deck Door.”

“Smooth airflow assists in the production of lift, and if ice accumulates on the wings, it distorts the smooth, laminar flow of air over the wing, and lift is reduced,” Manders told AccuWeather. “If lift is reduced too much, there's the potential of an aerodynamic stall.”

Besides the wings, ice can accumulate on every exposed frontal surface of an airplane, including on the propeller, windshield, antennas and vents, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Foundation.

If you've ever flown in the winter, there's a good chance you've seen someone spraying your plane down with deicing fluid before take off. What is it and why is it used?

Enough ice buildup can cause the engine to stop working. “In moderate to severe conditions, a light aircraft can become so iced up that continued flight is impossible,” the Foundation noted.

Ice on the wings and tail of an airliner can be fatal. In March 1992, USAir Flight 405 crashed shortly after takeoff near New York’s LaGuardia Airport, partially due to improper deicing procedures and large amounts of ice accumulating on the wings and airframe. A total of 27 people died as a result of the crash.

How planes are deiced

“If an aircraft has been parked for a while, say overnight, and ice has formed, it will need to be deiced,” said Manders, who added that in the presence of conditions like snow or freezing fog, the aircraft will have to be anti-iced.

Planes will have anti-ice equipment on the wings and engines, Manders said. These systems use electrics or hot air from the engines to heat up the leading-edge surfaces. “This [lets] the ice melt and fall off, or prevents its formation altogether,” he said.

Plane being deiced - AP Image

A plane is deiced on a snowy Presidents Day at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport on Feb. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Both procedures involve the use of heated liquids, according to Manders. “However, the anti-ice solution has certain chemical properties to prevent the formation of ice for a given period,” he said. “This period of time is called ‘holdover time,’ and the aircraft must take off before this time has expired.”

Once everyone is on board, a plane will typically move from the gate to a special deicing area to begin the multi-step process. “The area serves two purposes: to collect runoff of deicing fluids in order to protect the environment, and to position the aircraft closer to the runway to minimize exposure to new accumulation if it's still precipitating,” Herp said.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

First, a heated glycol-based solution, which is usually an easily identifiable orange color, is applied to remove any accumulated snow or ice from the aircraft. Glycol has a lower freezing point than water, and is commonly used in antifreeze, according to Herp.

“If it is actively precipitating and the aircraft requires continued protection prior to takeoff, then a second gel-like anti-icing fluid that is usually green in color is applied,” he said.

The gel-like nature of the substance gives pilots time to taxi to the runway and finish their final safety checks, and it’s designed to slough off as the aircraft gains speed upon takeoff so that it won’t affect the shape of the wing and tail.

“Often, the pilots will shut down the engines during the deicing process so the fluid doesn’t get dispersed through the engines, and they also close vents to keep the fluid from entering the cabin, although sometimes odors will find their way in,” Herp said.

Once a plane is airborne, its forward speed through the air keeps any frozen precipitation from accumulating on surfaces other than the leading edges of the wing, tail and engine inlets. These areas are protected during flight by anti-icing equipment on the airplane itself, according to Herp.

“On a typical airliner, the silver panels on the leading edges of the wings and tail and around the engine inlets are heated by hot air from the engines, and are very effective at eliminating ice buildup in flight,” Herp said, adding that there are also heating elements inside the plane’s instruments that collect outside air information used to operate the aircraft.

“[Over the years], technology like weather [information] in the cockpit, improved forecast tools and procedural changes in flight operations have helped air carriers avoid and better manage flight in icing conditions,” Herp said.

MORE TO EXPLORE:

Drone footage shows spectacular view of ghost town frozen in time
Terrifying video shows why snow squalls are so dangerous
Snow was so deep, city had to dump it off bridges
Photographer captures the most detailed images of snowflakes on record

For the latest weather news, check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Passenger ferry sinks off Bali killing 5 people, 29 unaccounted for

Jul. 3, 2025
video

Bomb cyclone slams Australia with heavy rain and intense winds

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Storms to spark on July 4th in parts of the Plains and Southeast

6 hours ago

Weather News

Madre Fire grows to 52,000 acres, now California’s largest wildfire of...

1 hour ago

Hurricane

High risk for tropical development off US Atlantic coast

59 minutes ago

Travel

Passengers scramble out of plane in St. Louis after report of smoke

12 hours ago

Weather News

Alabama teen struck by lightning while using phone during storm

9 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Weather News

‘Shark Whisperer’ swims its way into our shark obsession

1 day ago

Weather News

Endangered turtles share this Mexican beach with SpaceX rocket debris

1 day ago

Travel

Fourth of July gas hasn’t been this cheap since 2021

2 days ago

Weather News

What makes fireworks burst with vibrant colors?

1 week ago

Health

There is no safe amount of processed meat to eat, new research shows

12 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather News Why it's so critical to deice planes prior to takeoff
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...