Interesting article about two flights on the same day with smoke in their cabins. (I wonder if it was the same flight crew.) According to the BusinessWeek, aircraft deicing fluid is “definitely a possibility of what could have caused the smoke.â€
I did a quick Google search and came upon Ken Walker’s account of a pilot giving an explanation that sometimes the deicing fluid comes in contact with hot engine parts, and that smoke makes it way in to the cabin. Reading here, looks like some airlines do a “runup” to prevent smoking after deicing, and some don’t. I would like to know what kind of equipment Mr. Walker was on as both of the aircraft in yesterdays news were Embraer 145s. Perhaps the 145 has a design that really needs a runup, while others are ok without it.