GH.OPS.335 Aircraft de-icing and anti-icing

APPLICABLE INDUSTRY STANDARDS The GH organisation should apply the following industry (SAE) standards for deicing and antiicing, in their latest published version:

(a)AS6285 — ‘Aircraft Ground Deicing/AntiIcing Processes’;

(b)AS6286 — ‘Aircraft Ground Deicing/Antiicing Training and Qualification Program’;

(c)AS6332 — ‘Aircraft Ground Deicing/Antiicing Quality Management’;

(d)AMS1424 — ‘Deicing/AntiIcing Fluid, Aircraft, Newtonian - SAE Type I for the deicing/antiicing fluid quality control procedures’;

(e)AMS1428 — ‘Fluid, Aircraft Deicing/AntiIcing, NonNewtonian, PseudoPlastic, SAE Types II, III and IV, as applicable, for the deicing/antiicing fluid quality control procedures’;

(f)ARP6257 — ‘Aircraft Ground De/AntiIcing Communication Phraseology for Flight and Ground Crews’.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GH ORGANISATION PROVIDING DEICING/ANTIICING SERVICES

(a)The GH organisation providing deicing/antiicing services should develop, implement and maintain a deicing/antiicing programme compliant with the industry standards referred to in AMC1 GH.OPS.335.

(b)The GH organisation is responsible for the following:

(1)ensure that quality control processes and procedures for deicing/antiicing are applied and maintained for continued operational safety;

(2)adhere to the aircraft operator’s procedures regarding the deicing/antiicing treatment of the aeroplane;

(3)adhere to the aerodrome operator’s standards and procedures related to safety and operability of the designated deicing/antiicing facilities or areas;

(4)ensure that all personnel are effectively trained and qualified to coordinate, supervise and execute the deicing/antiicing treatments, and are familiar with, and apply the operational procedures as per the GH organisation’s manual, the aircraft operator procedures specific to the aircraft type, and local aerodrome procedures;

(5)ensure that sufficient competent personnel, adequate facilities equipment and deicing/antiicing fluids are available;

(6)use deicing/antiicing fluids that are acceptable to the aircraft operator and are within the limits specified by the fluid manufacturer;

(7)establish a communications process that ensures clear, concise and ontime communication for all deicing/antiicing operations, including with other organisations involved in the deicing process (e.g. air traffic control, other GH organisations personnel, aircraft operator). For deicing/antiicing at remote pads, communication between the de-icing operator responsible for the operation and the flight crew should be established before beginning the deicing/antiicing process and continually maintained during the entire process, until the deicing/antiicing is completed and the aircraft departs from the deicing area;

(8)maintain an environmentally responsible deicing operations programme;

(9)liaise with the aerodrome operator on the procedures applicable to it as aerodrome user by attending meetings and communicating regularly.

DE-ICING AND ANTI-ICING PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS

(a)The deicing/antiicing procedures should ensure compliance with the relevant regulations and global aircraft deicing standards as referred to in AMC1 GH.OPS.335.

(b)The procedures should cover all aspects of the aircraft ground deicing/antiicing process, including, but not limited to, instructions, tasks, responsibilities, authorisations and infrastructure for the deicing/antiicing process as follows:

(1)use of suitable deicing/antiicing treatment method according to SAE AS6285;

(2)procedures and instructions for deicing/antiicing at remote stands/facilities, when applicable;

(3)use of suitable deicing/antiicing equipment meeting the specification of ARP1971;

(4)verification, sampling, storage, requalification and operational quality assurance of deicing/antiicing fluids;

(5)postdeicing/antiicing check, when applicable;

(6)protocol for communications with the flight crew before, during and upon completion of the deicing/antiicing operations;

(7)communicating the antiicing code and/or postdeicing report to the flight crew, when applicable;

(8)documentation of all deicing/antiicing treatments;

(9)use of correct tools and clothing for deicing/antiicing personnel;

(10)arrangements for environmental protection.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

(a)ICAO Doc 9640 ‘Manual of Aircraft Ground Deicing/Antiicing Operations’ should be consulted and relevant information applied.

(b)The following FAA documentation, published annually, should be consulted and relevant information applied:

(1)FAA Holdover Time Guidelines [for the corresponding Winter],

(2)FAA Ground Deicing Program – General Information.

PREPARATION FOR THE WINTER SEASON

(a)The GH organisation should coordinate with the aerodrome operator and, whenever possible, the aircraft operator in preparation for deicing/antiicing operations sufficient time in advance of the winter season. The plan for the winter season should be communicated to all stakeholders concerned.

(b)The GH organisation should ensure that its personnel have received adequate training to ensure their continued competence for the winter season, including to execute deicing/antiicing operations.

PREPARATION OF DEICING/ANTIICING OPERATIONS IN COORDINATION WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS CONCERNED

(a)It is recommended that coordination for the winter season include the following elements for all stakeholders involved, as a minimum and to a relevant extent:

(1)exchanging the documents/procedures/manuals covering winter season operations;

(2)the aerodrome operator and the GH organisation communicating local procedures at the aerodrome of operation, including instructions and procedures for cold weather operations, to the aircraft operators.

(b)Pooling of resources for deicing/antiicing operations should be enabled whenever feasible and efficient.

(c)It is recommended that the following components be ensured or checked, as a minimum:

(1)remote deicing pads verified for serviceability and preventive maintenance of GSE to ensure their proper operation;

(2)initial or recurrent training for GH personnel, as applicable;

(3)availability of deicing/antiicing fluids;

(4)fluid quality checks;

(5)fluid storage facilities’ serviceability (functionality of pumps, valves, equipment filling point nozzles, etc.);

(6)availability of operational procedures, including any updates and specific or local operational procedures of aircraft operators and aerodrome operator.

(d)It is recommended to test, when possible, the plan for winter operations with the aerodrome operator, with the optional participation of aircraft operators.