SIMON AVIATION Ground Equipment of Olathe, Kansas has launched an aircraft de-icing system, which, the company claims, saves up to 30% fluid use.
Known as the Fluid Efficient Deicing System, it consists of a spray nozzle on a manoeuvrable swivel, which allows an operator, housed for protection in an enclosed cab also heated by the de-icing fluid, to direct the fluid in an "out and down" direction.
This leads to "considerable savings" over a conventional "fire-fighting" open-bucket operation.
The system is designed to provide variable flow rates for Type 1 de-icing fluid, but full flow for Type 2 fluid only.
The selection of which fluid to use is made in the cab by the system's operator.
Source: Flight International
