McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (N318FE)

Quite the Deicing Force.....

Nice pic CYYC

How long does deicing process last during freezing temps before departure? Say you've deiced, left the gate and are waiting in line for an hour for your turn to take-off and it's been over an hour. Isn't there an FAA time-limit rule you must return to the terminal for re-deicing after an hour?

Love that M.D.-11

When I was flying for FedEx, it was 22-25 min depending on weather. Obviously, weather and rain play a factor.

It depends on several factors. Obviously, the weather conditions play a huge factor but it also depends upon the actual deicing fluid being used. As you point out, it can take a long time to get from the gate to take-off. Given past accident investigations involving that issue, many airports have deicing pads close to the runways now. These pads also help efficient airport operations as the deicing trucks don't have to roam around from one gate to another. The planes all have to get to the runways, so it makes sense to have stationary pads near the runways.