How The US Air Force Deices Frozen Fighters

How It Works

This footage shows how the US Air Force de-ices its aircraft before operations in arctic conditions. Depending on mission priorities, multiple flights may be scheduled during certain levels of storms.

F-16s, being extremely light aircraft, are more susceptible to severe weather than heavier planes. As a result, maintenance teams use snow shovels to clear the flight line of snow. A tow bar is also used to move the plane to different parts of the airfield for maintenance or de-icing.

In some cases, snow is so deep that de-icing vehicles can’t access the flight line. To speed up the process, F-16s are de-iced simultaneously from both sides, cutting the time in half.

There are four types of de-icing fluids, chosen based on the temperature where the plane is parked. De-icing vehicles typically feature an operator cabin on an articulating arm, allowing access to all parts of the plane.

Larger aircraft, like the C-130 Hercules, take more time to de-ice. With a crew of two, operators save time by de-icing simultaneously rather than switching between tasks. De-icers first remove snow, then focus on clearing ice and preventing reformation.

Ground heating units are used to warm the C-130’s engine before starting, avoiding potential damage.

De-icing is done from the top down to ensure efficiency and prevent refreezing. Air Force bases also use snowplows and support vehicles to keep runways clear.