B747-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action
Weather; Staffing; Procedure
Forecast indicated snow storm at time of departure. Maintenance requested crew to have doors closed and ready for de-icing ready one hour prior to departure. Doors were closed on the hour. Twenty five minutes later; contract Maintenance contacted crew regarding commencing of spraying. Fifty five minutes later; deadheading maintenance personnel indicated both de-ice truck were still trouble getting snow off the aircraft. As we'd already calculated our holding time (1 hour); and based on the commencement of anti-icing; I determined the de-ice crew was improperly de-icing and anti-icing the aircraft. Communications with the Contract Ground Maintenance indicated low pressure Type IV fluid was being used to de-ice the aircraft; with poor results. I determined that improper procedures were being utilized. Upon completion of de-icing; contract Ground Maintenance asked me if I was satisfied. I informed that no; I wasn't and we couldn't depart as we'd exceeded our holdover time and hadn't been properly anti-iced with Type IV fluid. I also asked for a new start time with a full spraying of Type IV. I Contract de-icing company was attempting to de-ice the aircraft during the period when it was supposed to be applying anti-ice type IV. Contract Company not on the listed on Company NOTAMS of approved vendors. Maintenance was directed to coordinate the proper application of Type IV fluid; with the correct commencement of timing. Crew made visual checks of all surfaces to ensure they were free of ice/snow/contamination. Provide proper training/certification of vendor and its employees.
A B747-200 Captain required a Contract De-icing Crew to reapply Type IV fluid because the hold-over time expired after extensive application of Type IV to deice the aircraft.