New substance for de-icing

In the 2009-2010 winter season, as of mid January 2010, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will start using potassium formate instead of potassium acetate. This will considerably reduce the negative effects of de-icing chemicals on surface water quality.

At the airport, rainwater discharges in the draining system are required to meet the standards laid down in the Pollution of Surface Waters Act (Wet Verontreiniging Oppervlaktewater). The use of aircraft and runway de-icing chemicals during winter conditions has a negative impact on surface water quality.

Following a study and a pilot project, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has decided to replace potassium acetate with potassium formate in runway de-icing as from the 2009-2010 winter season. This will considerably reduce the negative effects of de-icing chemicals on surface water quality. Reducing the burden on water quality will result in a decrease in the prognosticated investment costs by around EUR 45 million. The switch to potassium formate will yield huge financial benefits to the entire industry. Lower investments in environmental protective infrastructure will prevent negative effects on airport charges.

We advise you to inform your technical aircraft maintenance department about this change, so that they can take it into account in their maintenance programme. We intend to use potassium formate as of January 2010. Until this date potassium acetate will continue to be used for runway de-icing as usual. Exactly when the new system is to be introduced will be announced by the end of 2009.