Winter operations Break the ice With a multitude of factors to take into consideration when preparing aircraft for take-
off, regulation is important. Accidents have occurred due to insuffi cient anti-icing and de- icing before fl ights. Fortunately, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) De-Icing/ Anti-Icing Quality Control Pool (DAQCP) has been there to help airlines choose the right
service providers and to share best practices for the past quarter of a century, with the pool celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Liam Murphy speaks to Dimitri Rybkin, chairman of the DAQCP, and Jessica Dawe, manager, charter of professional auditors at the IATA, to explore the pool’s origins and why its work is more important than ever.
I
t is a widely known fact that the most dangerous stage of a flight is actually down on the ground – during take-off and landing – rather than in the air. According to the International Air Traffic Association’s (IATA) 2021 safety report, of the 221 accidents that happened between 2017 and 2021, 24% of those were during take-off proceedings alone. This stage of the flight also accounted for 11 of the 37 fatal aircraft accidents. So, being such a crucial moment – and an opportune stage where crafts are grounded and detailed checks can be made – strict protocols for preparing aircraft for their journey are vital. A common ingredient in aircraft accidents is adverse weather – everything from obfuscating fog or debilitating ice. Some may remember reports of the Air Florida Flight 90 crash of 1982, where – after managing only 30 seconds in the air – the aircraft crashed into the 14th Street bridge connecting Arlington, Virginia to Washington DC, with everything but its tail plunging into the Potomac River. Only five of the 79 occupants survived, with four motorists on the bridge also succumbing to fatal injuries. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation determined that the probable cause of the crash was a combination of pilot error and a “prolonged
delay between de-icing and the receipt of ATC takeoff”. The report also mentioned “little communication between Air Florida and American Airlines” about de-icing procedures. De-icing is the process in which an aircraft is sprayed down with a concoction that melts ice that has collected on its wings. Anti-icing is applied afterwards, helping to keep the wings free from frost during its ascent into the skies. Fast forward to the modern day and a situation similar to that of the Air Florida flight would not be allowed to occur due to the greater level of scrutiny that de-icing procedures are carried out under. This is, in part, is thanks to the work of the IATA De-Icing/ Anti-Icing Quality Control Pool, or DAQCP for short. Consisting of over 100 member airlines, the pool shares audits of de-icing and anti-icing services across the globe, as well as collating helpful information on procedures and protocol. The DAQCP celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
From thin ice to sturdy ground When it comes to the DAQCP, there aren’t better people to speak to than Dimitri Rybkin and Jessica Dawe. Rybkin is the manager of quality alliances & suppliers for Etihad Airways, and has served as the
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