The FAA’s approval is for use with Quest Aircraft Kodiak 100 models and comes after the new fluid passed flammability, compatibility and in-flight testing.

Testing with several other aircraft types is currently underway, with approvals anticipated later this year. The new fluid, TKSsustain, is based on DuPont Tate & Lyle’s corn sugar-based glycol product, Susterra.

“Because the fluid is based on glycol from a sustainable source it’s much more environmentally friendly,” explained Kilfrost’s chief executive, Gary Lydiate. “But it also boasts significant handling benefits and ease of storage—in fact the toxicity is so low that containers don’t even have to be marked with a hazard symbol.”

“The fluid is also more ecological than ethylene glycol-based alternatives, with testing data suggesting a huge 65-percent increase in the speed of biodegradation, and the high ‘green’ glycol content ensures the fluid is a lower density which impacts positively on an aircraft’s weight—sometimes reducing fluid weight by as much as 10 percent,” he added.

According to Kilfrost, the new fluid also performs better: The fluid’s freezing point is -70°C rather than the -60°C expected from generic TKS fluids. The company says the new fluid maintains its optimal viscosity through a wide temperature range, allowing dependable de-icing performance in varying icing conditions.

Kilfrost also announced a strategic partnership with CAV Aerospace—a major TKS system installer.
For more information on Kilfrost’s new de-icing fluid, visit www.Kilfrost.com or stop by the company’s booth, number 4150, in Hangar D.