While de-icing remains an essential part of winter flight safety, there is a preventive strategy that can help reduce both the frequency and intensity of the process — keeping aircraft exteriors clean. The Chief Executive Officer of Nordic Dino Robotics explains how regular aircraft washing creates smoother surfaces that resist ice adhesion and require less aggressive de-icing procedures.

How contaminated surfaces attract ice

Not every winter flight requires de-icing, but a dirty aircraft is far more likely to need it. Contaminants such as soot, dust, and oil residues create a rougher, more porous surface that gives ice crystals something to grip onto.

“Experiments in icing wind tunnels show that as the surface roughness increases, the adhesion strength of ice rises proportionally,” says Andrianovaite. “Particles of soot, dust, or oil residues create a microscopically uneven surface. When water droplets impact this rough surface during flight or cold ground conditions, they lodge into these micro valleys and freeze.”

Some contaminants can also make surfaces more hydrophilic — more attractive to water — causing droplets to spread wider, freeze more completely, and bond more strongly to the surface.

“A thoroughly cleaned aircraft has a more uniform surface,” explains the Nordic Dino expert. “After washing your aircraft, you’re working with an exterior that’s naturally more resistant to ice adhesion. Ice may still form in freezing conditions, but it doesn’t get the same grip.”

Benefits beyond safety

Ice layers on clean aircraft are less stubborn, meaning they can be removed more easily. In an industry where time is money, a smoother and more efficient ice removal process brings measurable advantages.

“De-icing a clean surface is faster. Not only does ice not cling to it strongly, but the de-icing fluid spreads more evenly,” notes Andrianovaite. “This means removing frost and snow requires less fluid and fewer application cycles. All of this reduces de-icing costs and chemical waste — particularly important at major airports with strict runoff controls.”

Beyond the financial and environmental gains, the time advantage is significant. Quicker de-icing shortens ground turnaround times and can improve on-time performance. During harsh winter conditions, when delays can cascade throughout the network, efficiency on the apron becomes critical.

“Full exterior aircraft washing is often scheduled ahead of winter to remove summer grime and make subsequent de-icing more effective,” says Andrianovaite. “This proactive approach helps airlines establish a clean baseline before the cold season begins.”

Less de-icing, more savings

A clean aircraft is also less likely to need de-icing in the first place. Since de-icing fluids can accumulate on aircraft surfaces and contribute to corrosion, reducing their use has both operational and maintenance benefits.

“Airlines often budget €4,000–€6,000 per de-icing event for narrow-body jets during European winter operations,”

 Andrianovaite explains. “If de-icing operations are needed less frequently and with less intensity, it means both economic and environmental savings, as well as enhanced winter reliability.”

Keeping aircraft exteriors clean is therefore essential for safe, efficient winter operations. While de-icing will always remain a critical safety procedure, regular aircraft washing offers airlines a proactive strategy to minimise its frequency and intensity. With robotic cleaning solutions such as Nordic Dino, airlines can maintain the level of cleanliness needed to reduce de-icing requirements, cut costs, and improve operational efficiency during the cold months ahead.