ISO 11076:2020

Overview - ISO 11076:2020 (Aircraft deicing/anti-icing on the ground)

ISO 11076:2020 establishes the minimum worldwide requirements for ground deicing and anti‑icing methods for main line and regional civil transport airplanes. It is intended to facilitate safe aircraft operations in icing conditions without prescribing requirements for specific aircraft models. The standard aligns with ICAO Document 9640 and presumes compliance with applicable national civil aviation rules. It was issued as the sixth edition (2020), updating earlier editions and adding recognition of SAE Aerospace Standards AS6285 and AS6286.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and intent
  • Applies to main line (ramp mass > 50 000 kg) and regional (10 000–50 000 kg) airplanes.
  • Does not replace aircraft‑specific manuals; operators must consult OEM aircraft operations and maintenance documents for limitations.
• Method and procedural requirements
  • Deicing/anti‑icing methods on the ground shall comply with ISO 11076 and ICAO Doc 9640.
  • Deicing/anti‑icing processes and checks shall conform to the latest SAE AS6285.
  • A pilot shall not take off with frost, snow, slush or ice present on critical surfaces or instruments; a contamination check is required prior to departure.
• Fluids and equipment
  • Deicing/anti‑icing fluids used shall meet ISO 11075 (Type I) or ISO 11078 (Types II, III, IV) as directed by SAE AS6285.
  • Ground deicing equipment shall meet ISO 11077 functional requirements.
• Training and qualification
  • Personnel involved in deicing operations shall be trained and qualified with recurrent training each season; training contents shall conform to SAE AS6286.
• Quality control and safety management
  • Operators are required to continuously monitor deicing/anti‑icing operations within their Quality Control and Safety Management Systems, following applicable civil aviation guidance (e.g., EU‑OPS, FAA advisory circulars).

Practical applications - who uses ISO 11076:2020

• Airline operators and ground handling organizations - to develop compliant ground deicing/anti‑icing programs and procedures.
• Training providers and program managers - to structure recurrent qualification per SAE AS6286 and ISO 11076 expectations.
• Airport ground operations and equipment suppliers - to ensure equipment meets ISO 11077 and fluids meet ISO 11075/11078.
• Regulators and safety auditors - to assess operator compliance and integration with Safety Management Systems.
• OEMs and maintenance organizations - to coordinate aircraft‑specific limitations with operator deicing methods.

Related standards and references

• ICAO Document 9640 (Manual of aircraft ground de‑icing/anti‑icing operations)
• SAE AS6285 (Aircraft Ground Deicing/Anti‑Icing Processes)
• SAE AS6286 (Training and Qualification Program)
• ISO 11075, ISO 11077, ISO 11078
• Relevant civil aviation regulations and advisory circulars (FAA, EASA, Transport Canada)

Keywords: ISO 11076:2020, aircraft deicing, ground anti‑icing, deicing fluids, SAE AS6285, SAE AS6286, contamination check, safety management, ISO 11075, ISO 11078, ISO 11077.