Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
There are new deicing procedures at Boston where [aircraft] push back partially from the gate and then deice at the gate. This new procedure is not workable at Boston. This created such a huge backlog of aircraft waiting for gates that the entire Boston airport became clogged up with aircraft holding in the air. This flight noticed ATC making errors because of the ramifications.Deicing at the gate requires that gate space; tugs; and personnel are tied up during the entire process; creating delays for gates and ripple effects throughout the entire airport.Return to the previous procedure of deicing away from the gate -- at the 'JULIET' pad like before worked well.
Air Carrier Captain reported noticing problems arising from the new de-ice procedure at BOS.