Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Paul Edward Parker
Journal staff writer

A nationwide shortage of a runway de-icing chemical is not expected to pose problems at T.F. Green Airport, according to Alan Andrade, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation's vice president for operations and maintenance.

"We are prepared, so we should be fine," Andrade said today. "It all depends on the type of storms that we have."

The airport uses plows and brush trucks to remove snow, but resorts to potassium acetate fluid when runways, taxiways and the ramp areas near the terminal ice over. A miners strike in Canada interrupted the supply of a key ingredient in potassium acetate. Although the strike has ended, production has not ramped back up.

Andrade said that Green has about 30,000 gallons of potassium acetate on hand, which is enough to last into February or March under typical conditions. If the airport runs out before supplies are available, it can use an alternative chemical, although it will cost more, said Andrade.

Airports lacking an adequate supply of deicing chemicals could see flight delays balloon during winter storms.

A different chemical, which is plentiful, is used to de-ice airplanes.

 Tags  T.F. Green Airport

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