The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced the completion of more than 3 million-square-feet of de-icing pads at Memphis International Airport, which will ensure packages are delivered on time during the busy holiday season.
According to a Nov. 29 news release, Memphis International Airport houses FedEx’s largest air cargo sorting facility. The FAA invested $174 million to install the deicing pads which can de-ice 12 wide-body cargo aircraft simultaneously and keep shipping operations going smoothly.
“This holiday season and every season, it’s critical that American families and businesses get the goods they need when they need them,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the release. “Memphis International Airport is the biggest cargo airport in the country, and this innovative aircraft de-icing facility is one of the many ways we’re modernizing America’s supply chains.”
According to the release, message boards will eliminate the need for additional communication with pilots, and taxiway lights will render follow-me vehicles and marshallers unnecessary. It was also noted infrared cameras will help position the aircraft in the de-icing bays.
“We want to thank the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration and Memphis International Airport for their support of this new consolidated de-icing facility - an example of how to deploy technology to improve operational efficiency,” FedEx Express president and CEO Richard W. Smith said in the release. “The timing could not be better as FedEx enters the busy holiday season. This facility is a shining example of how we can help ensure our team members are safely operating throughout the winter season as we deliver outstanding service for our customers.”
The new de-icing pads are located at a central pad, allowing aircraft to depart sooner and reducing the need to de-ice aircraft more than once, the release reported. The new pads are also safer and more environmentally conscious. Under the new system, used de-icing fluid is collected in a segregated drainage system metered into the city's sanitary sewer system, where it helps breaks down and sanitize the city wastewater.
"Innovative projects like this are key to improving safety, increasing efficiency and advancing sustainability across the country,” Deputy FAA Administrator A. Bradley Mims said in the release.
