PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Continental Airlines Newark Chief Pilot in De-Icing Controversy
Old 5th Mar 2007, 10:26
  #16 (permalink)  
ornithopter
 
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Lets just say for arguments sake that this chap is correct just for a moment.

As you start the take off roll, you do not have the designed aerofoil shape due to the snow. As the roll continues the shape gradually changes such that during the roll the aerofoil becomes the correct shape. At what point? How does the takeoff speed/weight calculation take this into account? What about the added drag? What about the change in the surface shape and therefore a change in the boundary layer (this can make a huge difference, in fact if some aircraft wings are painted with the wrong paint it impedes their performance greatly)? What if you get bits stuck in the flaps or slats? What about the temperature of the wings with below zero fuel in them (ie not like a car at all!)?

It looks like even if the "it'll blow off" bit is right (its not!), then there are plenty of other reasons to ignore this misguided fool.

Still accepting it might be a wind up.
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