What would you do if you saw out your window during taxi for takeoff?

[CK 17]

9C0A84B0-F076-4D9E-AEA9-0DEE2CFC0342.jpg

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Assume it’s de-icer?

[SMARTINSEN]

Green slime eeeew

[CK 17]

It’s some cold anti-ice fluid sprayed on top of a snow covered wing. The flight attendant notified the pilots that the aircraft was still contaminated. They returned to the gate...the green slime is supposed to be applied to a clean wing after the aircraft is cleaned with de-ice fluid.

[bluedog225]

They missed a spot.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

It’s some cold anti-ice fluid sprayed on top of a snow covered wing. The flight attendant notified the pilots that the aircraft was still contaminated. They returned to the gate...the green slime is supposed to be applied to a clean wing after the aircraft is cleaned with de-ice fluid.

Give that flight attendant a bonus. A big bonus.

[Paul Pless]

the green slime is supposed to be applied to a clean wing after the aircraft is cleaned with de-ice fluid.

oops

[SMARTINSEN]

What would have happened had the plane took off in this condition?

[CK 17]

It’s hard to tell from the picture. It depends if it was sticking. It was allegedly Nashville, last week...

[Reynard38]

Type 4 only?

[Nicholas Scheuer]

The pilot will wiggle the controls at the end of the runway to insure the elevators, rudder, and ailerons are free, but he doesn't look at the frigging wings? There could be a Qanon guy with a horned helmet waving a flag sitting on one!

[Boatbum]

The pilot will wiggle the controls at the end of the runway to insure the elevators, rudder, and ailerons are free, but he doesn't look at the frigging wings? There could be a Qanon guy with a horned helmet waving a flag sitting on one!

They would just slough off at takeoff.

[Rich Jones]

I would imagine that several people on the de-icing crew are looking for new jobs.

[C. Ross]

I always find myself checking the de-icing.

MSP always gets it right. I inspect more carefully in less snowy places.

How would I know if it was a good job or bad? I certainly don’t, but now I’ve seen a badly done job.

[TomF]

the grass is always greener on the other side of the plane.

[Dave Hadfield]

Yes, the initial spray with a thin and cheap warmed de-icing fluid (pink) is to remove the snow and get a clean surface. Then, if precip is still falling, you top-spray with Type 4 (green), which stops anything sticking for a timed interval. During the takeoff roll, the Type 4 is designed to sheer-off the wing. During flight of course icing grows only on the leading edges, and heat from the engines, or electricity, is used to prevent it there.

We nearly lost an Airbus in BOS about 10 years ago because the deicers ran out, and only got one wing done. Then they didn't come back and the airplane went flying. Just barely.

[amish rob]

If I looked out an airplane window and saw that?

Easy. I’d scream until my head popped, then pass out while I filled my pants. Front and rear...

[Rich Jones]

I don't fly in the winter.

[Canoez]

Flew through Detroit during a snow storm once. Was early in the fall and the snow was heavy and wet. Before departure they'd sprayed the plane down with something - I couldn't see what in the dark. Was a DC-9, IIRC.

After that, we were delayed for a bit - 20 minutes or more after the scheduled departure. I recall we departed without getting another treatment. The takeoff roll was long and you could hear something on the outside of the aircraft which I assume was the snow coming off the plane. The roll was long enough that the flight attendant in a jump seat picked up a phone, had a short chat and hung it up.

[willmarsh3]

Air Florida flight 90 - what went wrong.

[C. Ross]

Air Florida flight 90 - what went wrong.

I lived in DC when that happened. It’s what caused me to be obsessive about looking at the wings.

[CK 17]

Type 4 only?

That appears to be what happened...

[Kevin T]

Type 4 only?

Reynard38, please check your pm's

[hawkeye54]

9C0A84B0-F076-4D9E-AEA9-0DEE2CFC0342.jpg

As infrequent - flying 'Self Loading Freight' -- when I first saw this, and did not yet read farther, I thought : Just how long was this aircraft in inactive storage before this flight ? -- it looked a bit like moss

[L.W. Baxter]

ask the attendant for a snow cone