If you have de-ice boots on your aircraft you understand that for them to final you will require to keep them in new condition. In days gone purchase aviators and aircraft mechanics have utilized all sorts of things to keep them in mint condition. This is especially serious if you park your aircraft out doors for any duration of time. Like tires the rubber in de-ice boots gets old and checks. I can remember as a young guy cleaning aircraft in trade for flight time often using floor wax on the de-ice boots. It worked well certainly.

I distinctly remember one day using floor wax and then having to climb onto the aircraft and sat on the well saturated de-ice boots I had just coated with lots of Floor Wax. The floor wax soaked thru my Levis and underwear and crinkled by rear end to the point of a horribly painful encounter. Floor wax as it dries on pores and skin is not a fairly thing, boy did it hurt and I never did that again.

Today there are unique chemically engineered product you can use to keep the de-ice boots in new condition and make certain they function when you require them most. As ice is forming on the top edge of the wing as your depart IFR from an airport a gross excess weight. One product I recommend is &quotPBS Boot Sealant&quot which is available at many Fixed Base Operators (FBOs). PBS stands for Pneumatic Boot Sealant and you can also order it on-line at www.JetStreamProducts.com .

It is pretty expensive in price about $forty for a one quart bottle or $33.00 each for a case of twelve, which will run you $400.00 but it is well worth it and you can only imagine how pricey it will be if the A and P Mechanic at your subsequent annual inspection tells you that these de-ice boots require to be changed. Being that de-ice boots are a safety item many AI Mechanics will not signal off the annual if the boots appear checked or old. You may have noticed your de-ice boots with a grungy, yellowed tint or white’ish gray from being waxed more than the PBS product can consider care of all that certainly. Light Aircraft Journal stated in one of their articles &quotMake no error, the PBS Boot system is the best boot therapy we’ve actually seen.&quot I concur having been in the aircraft cleaning company for more than 25 many years www.AircraftWashGuys.com (currently not taking on new clientele). I remember an write-up in AOPA Journal also touting the PBS product.

If your de-ice boots appear too far gone already try some floor wax and then PBS prep and then the sealant. The prep runs about $16.00 per quart and is a great first step. Conserve you de-ice boots as they may save your life. Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – If you have revolutionary thoughts and distinctive perspectives, come think with Lance www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs