Dg800 <<I still don't understand how trapping it into silica gel will get rid of the weight though, unless the material is actually jettisoned in flight.>>
Because it is only temporary, until that silica gel is rotated into a flow of heated cabin air, which will dry out silica gel, the water vapour therefore will be introduced back to the cabin, and the freshly dried silica will be ready to absorb more moisture. This will cause much lighter insulation, less ice on aircraft skin interior etc.
edit replied before previous post showed. Ice does weigh a lot, so does soggy or iced up insulation. Water in gas form doesn't weigh much at all, infact less than dry air.
Last edited by tom775257; 8th Feb 2013 at 10:56.