After de-icing has taken place within my company, we (ground staff), check the wing to make sure the frost or clear ice has totally gone by doing a hands-on check.
It really is the only way to make sure it's all gone.
There are some plonkers out there operating the de-icing equipment for the handling companies !
On a couple of occasions, the fluid temperature wasn't checked before applying it to the wing (it was freezing cold!
) and Mr sprayer was just adding to the problem.
The lack of steam and my hands-on check may have saved the day.
Obviously for larger aircraft (where you can't get some engineering steps to the wing), the contamination check can't really be performed, only from the window or door, but for the smaller beasts it's fine!
Those of you chaps operating in and out of LHR presently with the current fuel sittuation need to take extra care! Lots of frost and clear ice around!
Safe flying
