For Immediate Release
July 28, 2009 Birmingham, AL: Developed by an ex-commercial pilot, JetSocks promises to reduce winter delays caused by frost.
Cliff Atkins, a pilot for more than 12 years, developed the idea of a system of wing covers as he sat at the controls of a commercial jet waiting to be deiced. “It was the third delay in three days because of a little frost. It forms on the bare wings at night while the plane is sitting and can happen on a clear night with no other weather considerations, says Atkins. “I said to myself, there has to be a better way.”
FROST EQUALS DELAYS
Frost is a major cause of delays in the airline industry. Once a pilot determines that an aircraft must be deiced, the airplane is loaded with passengers, fired up and driven out to a deicing station. Pilots turn off the engines and the aircraft gets hosed down with aircraft deicing fluid. Once the plane is contaminant-free, pilots start the engines and the aircraft is put in line for takeoff. This entire process can add 30 minutes or even an hour or more to any flight, and extra engine starts and wasted fuel are very costly parts of operating an aircraft. JetSocks can help prevent the above scenario by preventing the frost in the first place.
EASY ON, EASY OFF
The covers protect the flying surfaces of an aircraft (wings and tail). The ground crew puts them on after the plane is put away for the night then removes them before passenger boarding the following morning. A two-man crew can put on the covers in 20 minutes or less and can remove them even more quickly.
REDUCED COSTS
JetSocks can dramatically reduce the amount of costly aircraft deicing fluid needed by airlines and airports in winter. Aircraft deicing fluid (ADF) is a glycol based substance used to remove frost and ice from aircraft. Airlines purchase it by the gallon, then heat it before hosing down an aircraft. It is expensive to use and extremely harmful to the environment. JetSocks can prevent the need for aircraft deicing before the first flight out of the day, thus reducing the overall amount of ADF needed by aircraft operations. In addition, JetSocks can reduce other costs such as those related to flight delays.
The target market for the product is regional airlines and the system includes the wing covers as well as on-site crew training. The product promises to help customers get more flights out on-time. JetSocks offers covers for a variety of aircraft, including Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ-100/200/700/900), Embraer (135/145), Saab 340s, and others.
“We’re really excited about what we can do for airlines to help reduce costs,” remarked Atkins.
ABOUT JETSOCKS
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Jetsocks offers delay prevention systems for regional airlines that will reduce the cost of winter operations for airlines and airports. Learn more at www.jetsocksinc.com.