A chemical-free solution for de-icing planes

How could the tech make air travel more efficient and prevent delays?

Spotted: De-icing is essential for aeroplanes during winter travel. However, the current process of spraying planes with a glycol compound to remove ice from the wings and tails is inefficient and causes many flight delays in winter. A technology startup, aptly named De-Ice, hopes to improve this process. 

The company’s technology relies on induction heating from lightweight, specialised fibres, which are fitted on with aerospace-grade adhesive and can be removed during regular maintenance. The fibres generate an alternating electromagnetic field, which induces eddy currents within the plane’s body, causing it to heat up. The generated heat melts any snow or ice on parts of the aircraft that need to be de-iced, ensuring a smooth take-off.  

This method improves airlines’ efficiency, guaranteeing planes can leave and arrive on schedule, since de-icing is automatically carried out during boarding. It also offers cost-savings for airlines by eliminating the recurrent purchase of de-icing chemicals. Plus, this method is more environmentally friendly as it eliminates the CO2 emitted in the manufacturing and transportation of de-icing chemicals.  

De-Ice secured Air Canada as its launch customer early on, and some of the airline’s planes already use the system. As well as commercial planes, De-Ice’s system could also be used in the military as well as in other applications like wind turbines.

Written By: Joshua Solomon