+9c OAT and de-icing?

[750XL]

Hi all :ok:

I'm not an engineer or pilot but do work on the ground and I'm involved in de-icing every now and then when it's required.

I flew on Saudi Arabian Airlines in mid Feb to Riyadh from Heathrow (772). We boarded on time etc and doors were closed for a good 10mins but we still hadn't pushed back, then the next minute a de-icing rig pulled up and started to de-ice us (wings + tail only).

That may seem quite ordinary for February, but it was +9c outside (according to METAR at the time) and no other aircraft were being de-iced.

Are there any reasons why de-icing might be requested in such conditions as I've never experienced it before?

Thanks

[vanpilot2]

Might have had a bit of ice from the airframe getting cold soaked in the cruise. It happens.

[barit1]

Since I suspect (from history) that fuel is cheaper there than in UK, the ship might have "tankered" a lot of fuel into LHR, and that fuel was cold-soaked enroute. This would aggravate any residual ice from precipitation, or frost from a high dewpoint.

[750XL]

Makes sense, thanks for the replies :ok:

[mutt]

Barat1. . . 100% correct.

Mutt