DeicingManager^SM

When performing aircraft deicing operations, it's important that the process run as efficiently as possible, both to reduce operating costs and speed passengers on their way. Minimizing passenger inconvenience is particularly important in light of the recent Passenger Bill of Rights and today's increased security requirements.

Usually, communications and instructions between the flight crew, ground crew, deicing coordinators, and air traffic control personnel are made using conventional voice communications over congested ground frequencies. Often, these messages must be repeated. Sometimes there are miscommunications, resulting in conflicts and delays.

ARINC's DeicingManager—just one application in the ARINC integrated Airport Operations solution suite—is a real-time, deicing command and control tool designed to solve this communications problem, improve decision-making, reduce operating costs, and minimize passenger inconvenience.

DeicingManager uses a highly reliable data link communications infrastructure to provide precise instructions to the flight crew and an accurate, real-time snapshot of the airport's overall deicing operations to stakeholders on the ground. During deicing weather conditions, it is particularly important to know the location of a departing aircraft, the estimated duration that an aircraft must wait to be deiced, and the anticipated duration of actual deicing. DeicingManager calculates average deicing queue times and provides timely notification of key deicing activities. This allows airlines to keep jetways open longer, better accommodate connecting passengers, and substantially improve the ability of stakeholders to effectively manage a winter weather event.

DeicingManager can also be used as a long-term planning tool for performance analysis teams to assess archived deicing operations data, identifying lessons learned and improving the quality of their contingency plans. Traditionally, much of this data is in hard-copy form, an expensive, cumbersome medium. With DeicingManager, this information is readily available in electronic form, allowing fast access and comprehensive analysis.