Multi-Solution Gate is a revolutionary system for washing and de-icing aircraft

Air transport shows the highest growth among all transport modes, and forecasts show that air passengers will nearly double to 7.8 billion by 2036, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Before each departure, these planes will still need to be washed, de-sanded, de-iced, engine flushed and/or inspected. These processes typically lead to mismanagement of valuable resources, unnecessary spillage of chemicals into the environment and release of emissions. De-icing is often performed manually outdoors without proper handling of glycol, which then can become a source of pollution.

If winter temperatures in cold climate countries continue rising, this could lead to more frequent conditions near the 0 °C point. One consequence of this could be a greater need to de-ice airplanes, a Norwegian study shows.

With the Multi-Solution Gate (MSG) aircraft are washed and de-iced in a covered facility with closed loop systems, significantly reducing the possibility of discharges into the surrounding environment. The majority of all spent fluids are collected and made available for a variety of recycling options.

Flying clean airplanes reduces overall drag, which in turn reduces fuel consumption, releasing fewer emissions while saving airlines fuel costs. Due to its speed and easy accessibility, the MSG washing system will allow airlines to increase washing frequencies of their aircraft.

The current processes of washing, de-sanding, de-icing and engine flushing of aircraft are mostly done by hand. The MSG can automatically de-ice or de-sand an aircraft in a few minutes and fully wash an entire aircraft in only 20 minutes, dramatically reducing human labour and increasing ergonomics.

Moreover, because de-icing with the MSG takes only five minutes regardless of weather conditions, it will give airlines, air traffic controllers, and ultimately, passengers, improved predictability in departure times and fewer delays.

The MSG also has built-in engine flushing capabilities. Cleaning aircraft engines at regular intervals can significantly reduce their lifespan, with fuel burnt more completely – ensuring better overall economy due to lower fuel consumption and longer maintenance intervals.

Today, manual de-icing is performed on aircraft at some 2 500 airports and aircraft washing is carried out at roughly 10 000 airports. The aviation industry is under pressure to find new sustainable solutions to meet expected dramatic growth in the number of aircraft.

Countries in the Middle East are looking for solutions to keep their fleet free of sand and dirt particles, thereby extending the life of airplane engines and exterior coatings, while saving water. The US and Russia are also looking to improve their de-icing and anti-icing practices in ways that the MSG can offer.

In August 2019, Saudi Arabian High Wings Aviation Services signed a contract for the first MSG installation, scheduled for completion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in August 2020.