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De-Icing Crews Ready For Winter At O'Hare

(CBS) – For more than 20 years, Kenny Smith and John Kowalsky have had a unique partnership.

Their job is also unique.

They are members of the de-icing team for American Airlines at O'Hare International Airport.

The de-icing season had not started yet, but team members began training in August.

The job entails filling up enormous trucks with water and a substance called glycol.

Thousands of gallons are sprayed on each plane at 180 degrees, to make sure they're free of ice and snow. Each plane takes about four to eight minutes.

It's a similar mission for United Airlines de-icing crews at O'Hare.

They're now using enclosed buckets that allow crews to hide from the elements and work for a longer period of time.

 

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