Getting ice off the wings: The specs for the airport’s new consolidated de-icing facility
The project includes a three-story tower to oversee multiple de-icings. It allows airlines and FedEx Corp. controllers to oversee the process for multiple cargo an passenger aircraft all at one time. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Here are the specs for Memphis International Airport’s new Consolidated De-Icing Facility that will serve all passenger and cargo airlines at Memphis International Airport.
- Military, general aviation and FedEx turboprops will de-ice at their gates and ramps.
- Total cost: $309 million, which includes $174 million from the Federal Aviation Administration and $135 million from the airport authority
- 12 de-icing bays with 11 sized for up to Boeing 777Fs and 1 large enough for an Airbus A380, a Boeing 747-8, two Airbus A321s or two Boeing 737s
- Glycol, the chemical used in de-icing, is stored in a distribution system that has a capacity of 575,000 gallons of fluid.
- De-icing fluid collection system: 1.5 miles of trench drains and a 2.5 million gallon underground storage system to store enough fluid for back-to-back de-icing events
- 73 acres of new concrete airfield paving, including two new cross-field taxiways and 50 miles of new airfield striping, along with 2,000 new LED light fixtures
Source: Memphis International Airport
Topics
Memphis International Airport consolidated de-icing facilityBill Dries on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Bill Dries' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Bill Dries
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.