De-Ice Boot Care Before Wisconsin Icing Season

4 days ago

3 min read

Winter in Wisconsin doesn't wait. When the first freezing drizzle rolls across the ramp, your pneumatic de-ice boots should already be clean, protected and ready for the season.

Boots sit on the leading edges, where they collect bugs, exhaust, oil and ramp grime all year. JetGlow cleans them, then protects them, right at your hangar or on your ramp.

Why De-Ice Boots Need Their Own Care

Pneumatic boots are rubber, not paint. The polishes, waxes and solvent cleaners used on the rest of the airframe aren't made for them, and the wrong product can do harm. Boots need boot-specific cleaners and protectants.

Common mistakes that cause problems:

Automotive tire shine, silicone dressings or all-purpose degreasers
Abrasive pads or stiff brushes
Protectant applied over bugs, oil or old buildup
Cleaning in direct sun, where product dries too fast and streaks

What typically builds up on a boot:

Bug residue and leading-edge grime
Exhaust soot and oil streaks on engine-side surfaces
Old dressing that has trapped dirt
Weathering from sun and ozone on a parked airplane

Two Ways We Care for Your Boots

PBS De-Ice Boot Care

We remove buildup from the boot surface, then apply Jet Stream PBS, a care product made for pneumatic de-ice boots. The result is a clean, even, finished look across every boot section.

B.F. Goodrich De-Ice Boot Care

Some operators prefer to stay with B.F. Goodrich products. Same process: we remove buildup first, then apply B.F. Goodrich boot care products.

Not sure which fits your airplane? Tell us what you fly and what your maintenance provider prefers, and we'll match it.

How a JetGlow Boot Service Works

We confirm your aircraft, location and timing. It's a mobile service, so we come to you.
We clean the boots with soft, non-abrasive materials, following the manufacturers' suggested cleaning procedures.
We apply your choice of Jet Stream PBS or B.F. Goodrich boot care products.
We finish with a wipe-down and a walkaround, and point out anything we noticed so you can pass it to maintenance.

Before We Arrive

A few details help us plan the visit:

Where the airplane will be: hangar, FBO ramp or tie-down
Your next departure time, so we can work around it
Any recent boot repairs or open maintenance items, so we know what to leave alone
Which product line you want: Jet Stream PBS or B.F. Goodrich

King Air, PC-12 and Citation Boots

Boot-equipped King Air, PC-12 and Citation aircraft are a natural fit for this service. Wing and tail boots get the same attention, section by section.

Running a charter or flight department fleet? We schedule around your trips, overnight included, so the airplane is ready when the crew shows up.

Timing for Wisconsin Icing Season

The simple plan: get boots cleaned and protected before icing season starts, then book again during the winter as buildup returns. Your maintenance provider and the boot manufacturer's guidance should set how often that happens for your airplane.

Mobile Across Wisconsin, 24/7

JetGlow is veteran-owned and based at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh. We come to you across Wisconsin, including Green Bay (KGRB), Appleton (KATW), Milwaukee (KMKE) and Madison (KMSN). We're available 24/7, so early departures and late arrivals aren't a problem.

A Note on Airworthiness

Boot care is appearance and protection work. It isn't an inspection, a repair or an airworthiness sign-off. Questions about boot condition, inspection or repair go to your maintenance provider. A protectant doesn't repair a damaged boot. If we notice cracking, cuts or lifting edges while cleaning, we'll point it out so your maintenance provider can take a look.

What we bring is careful, aviation-only detailing. Our team is Shiny Jets trained, and we follow manufacturers' suggested cleaning procedures on every boot we touch.