Righto.
Swissport & Airline Services had ALL their rigs manned and in use.
A B777 is a big aeroplane. de-icing with one rig is not acceptable. Two rigs minimum should have been provided.
Two rigs for half the time instead of one rig that had to refill.
Perhaps, if the de-icing rig got a bit closer to the airframe it would actually hit the target and the fluid would still be hot enough to do it's job.
Tying to blast snow off the top of the fuselage from 30ft away is nuts!
The airport did a great job clearing the runway and taxiways. The two de-icing agents performed very badly.
I was at Oslo the other weekend arrived at night -4 and snowing, departed next morning approx -6. Not de iced on the ramp but departed to end of main taxyway to a very large de-icing pan, hot de-icer from a vehicle each side of our aircraft. Radio contact between pilot and de-icing crew. On completion of de-icing taxied straight on to the hold point for the runway and away. Fast efficient and well co-ordinated, UK airport have much to learn. In effect tell companies who work at the airports you WILL follow directions from the owners in this situation and work together for a fast efficient system.