Ryanair, as part of its self-handling initiative, has invested in a number of de-icing rigs that have been sourced from Mallaghan. In total, the budget carrier has purchased seven, five of which will be deployed in Madrid, with the others destined for use at Stansted. The Madrid location choice was governed by the frequent icy conditions that the airport experiences during the winter period.
In the event, the carrier opted for units built on a common DAF chassis, with either right or left hand drive, so that continuity of spares and components presents no difficulty. In terms of fluid capacity, Ryanair specified the 8,200 litre tank, which is big enough to de-ice a wide-bodied aircraft: since Ryanair utilises B737s, the logic here is that the rig will be able to de-ice proportionately more aircraft before requiring a refill. Also of interest to the carrier was the fact that the Mallaghan de-icer is ready for work just 15 minutes after it is started up.
