De icing at YYC

[RooFlyer]

I was at YYC (Calgary) earlier for a flight down to LAX. We had about 5cm of snow overnight and I knew that would trigger some form of de-icing routine. For those who have never seen it, a video would be best, but here are some pics which give an idea.

First, most de-icing occurs on areas of the taxi ways away from the gates. This morning, traffic was light and the snow had stopped some hours previously. Therefore the de-icing was pretty relaxed.

This bird had obviously been left out of the garage overnight. De-icing aisle 5!




Actually, most of that is fluffy stuff which I venture is not a huge worry (but has to be removed). So the de-icers move in. Pic on the left has the loose snow being blown off the wing. Note the probes which would alert the operator to contact with the wing in the dark, and when its all steamy. On the right its full on.




Get ready for tail attack .... ATTACK!




They bring in a third unit to supply the coupe de grace. I understand there are 2 basic formulas ... one for 'removal' and a gooier version to stick to the fuselage extra well, to discourage ice build up after take-off. I find the stuff comes in 2 colours .. orange and bright green .. Then we have the bird, nice and shiny and snow and ice free ...




The Air Canada plane below is being de-iced in the off-stand. It took about 10 mins, then there was (as usual) another 5 to 10 min wait. The other pic is the name on a hanger that I bet you all wished you had come up with first



There you have it. On bad nights (ie very snowy / freezing rain) at a busy airport it can be pandemonium. You wait at the gate till your spot in the de icing queue comes up. Taxi over. Wait ages. Get de-iced. Then wait for a departure slot. If too long, go back to get de-iced again. Repeat. Run out of fuel. Go back to gate to re fuel. Go back to de-icing etc etc etc.

Our flight didn't need de icing - it had just flown in and by then it was a nice sunny (albeit very cold) day.

 

[samh004]

Cool photos.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Awesome Photo's!

Love YYC its a Great Airport that does a great job of showcasing Western Canada , aka Cowboy Culture & The Rockies!

Yep..... it can pretty much snow at anytime in Calgary.... even July or August in the midst of summer!

Have fun on your travels & thanks for sharing those great Photo's with us

 

[robd]

Tail attack - lol .

 

[Barks]

Cool photos... thanks for sharing

Never been to Canada but will definitely be going in the next year or so. Hopefully oneworld will have a Canadian member by then.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Hopefully oneworld will have a Canadian member by then.

I share your Wish, although that remains very unlikely.
West-Jet have been touted in the past joining One World, but they have gone quiet on the idea.

However a number of AA flights codeshare with Westjet, so you may get your Status Credits/Points/Redemptions via that Method.

It's worth noting that US Airways fly into Halifax, Edmonton & Quebec city which AA currently does not.... so when US Airways comes into the One World fold this will open up a few more options for One World Customers along with Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary & Toronto that are already serviced by AA.

 

[samh004]

I share your Wish, although that remains very unlikely.
West-Jet have been touted in the past joining One World, but they have gone quiet on the idea.

However a number of AA flights codeshare with Westjet, so you may get your Status Credits/Points/Redemptions via that Method.

It's worth noting that US Airways fly into Halifax, Edmonton & Quebec city which AA currently does not.... so when US Airways comes into the One World fold this will open up a few more options for One World Customers along with Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary & Toronto that are already serviced by AA.

I thought CX also flew there and in/out to NYC?

 

[Barks]

I share your Wish, although that remains very unlikely.
West-Jet have been touted in the past joining One World, but they have gone quiet on the idea.

However a number of AA flights codeshare with Westjet, so you may get your Status Credits/Points/Redemptions via that Method.

It's worth noting that US Airways fly into Halifax, Edmonton & Quebec city which AA currently does not.... so when US Airways comes into the One World fold this will open up a few more options for One World Customers along with Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary & Toronto that are already serviced by AA.

Cheers for that, I'll have to be a bit creative while keeping my fingers crossed for WestJet

I know CX codeshare with WestJet but I think only when travelling from HKG.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I thought CX also flew there and in/out to NYC?

I believe your correct YVR > JFK can be booked I believe on CX !

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Cheers for that, I'll have to be a bit creative while keeping my fingers crossed for WestJet

I know CX codeshare with WestJet but I think only when travelling from HKG.

Yes, that's correct regarding CX! The AA flights in code share with WestJet may be the same as well, ie only a through fare only.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Cheers for that, I'll have to be a bit creative while keeping my fingers crossed for WestJet

They Would make an excellent fit for One World, since Canadian Airways was swallowed up by Air Canada.

But I believe West-Jet think along similar lines like how Virgin Australia see's Airline Alliances..... not worth doing.

Virgin Blue co-founder Brett Godfrey is a West-Jet board Member if I'm not mistaken.

 

[TomVexille]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've been hoping WestJet would join One World ever since I started flying to western Canada regularly. The connections between LAX and Calgary by any airline are carp - I've never explicitly looked at WestJet (see below), but they must have some additionally timed routes. If you arrive at LAX on QF in the morning, you miss the early LAX-YYC flight on AC, and going via YVR or DFW gets you out of LAX earlier, but not into YYC eany earlier (probably good for SCs though if on AA ). I usually wait 4-6 hrs at LAX (is there a 'hanging yourself' emoticon?) and get the AC flight. Except this time when I went Circle Pacific with CX, so arrived at YVR and connected well to YYC.

I should add there are occasionally some better time AC connections - not sure why - probably certain Daylight savings permutations.

But WestJet almost certainly won't join an alliance - if for no other reason in that they may be one of the few Western airlines that don't have a mileage/rewards scheme. You can earn 'WestJet dollars' or something like that, under certain circumstances. I've never seen the reason to investigate further!

They would have to completely reconfigure their business model if they joined an Alliance.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Great photos !!

I was on a CX 777 in JFK and we got deiced. Impressive task indeed