Flygplansavisningens miljöpåverkan vid svenska flygplatser
The aim of this thesis was to answer a number of questions about the environmental consequences of aircraft de-icing. A further aim was to suggest how the environmental consequences due to the release of de-icing fluids can be measured and reduced.The main impact of the aircraft de-icing on the environment is due to the large oxygen demand for the degradation of glycol based de-icing fluids which are released in the environment. The effect of the increase in oxygen demand depends on where the degradation occurs in the ecosystem. In a sensitive ecosystem, the large demand of oxygen could provide an anaerobic environment which would be harmful for many types of organisms.In order to reduce the negative effects of the applied de-icing fluid, there is some type of collection system at every regular airport in Sweden. The methods of collection can be divided into two general groups, hydrological isolation or vacuum sweeper trucks. When the area used for hydrological isolation is relatively small it is called a central de-icing pad. This thesis investigates which methods are being used at 16 of the Swedish airports with the most intense de-icing activity. Of all of these airports, only one does not use vacuum sweeper trucks. Six of the airports use central de-icing pads and five use hydrological isolation of a larger area. The investigation of the efficiency of each method showed no significant differences. This is due to the lack of accurate measurements and that different measurement methods are employed at different airports.This thesis also examines which methods for measuring the efficiency are being used, their weaknesses and what alternatives methods are available. Suggestions are also given to minimize the environmental consequences of aircraft de-icing, taken into account both leakage of the de-icing fluid and its judicious use.The case study of Stockholm-Bromma Airport includes a more detailed investigation of the de-icing activities and a rough mass balance is established. The aim of establisheing the mass balance is to determine the extent of collection of the de-icing fluids, their runoff to the storm water system or arrival at a diffuse sink. The results show that even if the collection is low, only a small part of the de-icing fluids reaches the storm water system. A relatively large part goes to the diffuse sinks where the de-icing fluids degrade on the soil surface or percolate into the soil. In the case study there is also an investigation of the probable impacts on the surrounding environment due to aircraft de-icing at Stockholm-Bromma Airport and suggestions are made how to reduce the impact.