Hi, and HNY,

Are there any airside safety bods out there that can give me an idea on something I saw please? Sitting in 14D looking out the window I was quite pleased to see the de-icing vehicle paying attention to my flight just before push back but something looked odd. The de-icer was a smallish bowser type truck with a MEWP type platform just abaft the drivers cab and to be honest the operator was enthusiastically spraying my flight - all good. Now, convetional best practice is that MEWPs do not move with the cage / man basket "up" but this was not the case this time. To be honest the window was small so I couldn't see if there were harnesses being worn but the platform / basket did look very stable as the bowser moved around the tail section of my flight.

So, the question; are de-icing bowser/trucks designed to be operated with the basket raised to better ensure full coverage of surfaces and to spead up the de-icing procedures?

Thanks,

Oh, and the two nights in Amsterdam were fantastic BTW,

Jim

I must admit I have never come across the best practice of not moving a MEWP while the man cage part is raised I thought that was common practice as that was always the benifit of using a MEWP.

Not an "airside" expert by any means, but, I do hold a current IPAF for 1b, 3a & 3b, (valid till 2020).

Apart from the static boom, 1b, which you obviously can't move around when elevated! ;)

Both the 3a & 3b can be moved whilst elevated, and driving them in an elevated position formed part of the "test" that had to be taken to pass the training, and mine was a refresher.

Thus I don't see an issue with moving them around raised, and that is one of their fundemental advantages.

Thanks all - I'm now wondering where I got the idea that MEWPs should not be driven around with the man basket raised from. I honestly believe(d) that with a basket raised or boom extended that any small jolts at the axle would be multiplied with the risk of the person in the basket being ejected (fall prevention lanyard and harness aknowledged) and thus was not considered best practice. Maybe there's a height or extension limit. I've certainly not seen them being manouvred with the basket raised but maybe I'm looking t'other way

Anyway, thanks, plenty of food for thought,

Jim

ExDeeps

I have spoken to our Ops team who carry out this role. They permit the vehicle to move around an aircraft (usually around the apron or designated de-icing area only) during the de-icing process. the operator is secured in the man basket with harness and short lanyard. When finished the operator disembarks from cage and boom is securely stowed before the vehicle leaves the apron for next job or a refill of de-icer.