So, back to this de-icing story, let me ask a few questions please. Several a/c are caught by snow, overnight. Eventually some ~5" of snow have accumulated on wings, part of fuselage, etc. Icicles have formed. Temperature is -7 degrees C. Now, how long would it take to remove the snow and properly de-ice and protect such an a/c at some airport you are familiar with? Where is the experience needed to make a decision whether to try operate such a flight that day? Mainly with the ground services I would guess, after all they know what their equipment can do? Who could say "we are not going to make it before XX hours"?
Thanks