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I discovered BA’s secret ‘Jedi’ zone at Heathrow airport that only gets used in a big freeze
Plus, the truth behind that dirty green gel you sometimes see on planes
THERE'S a secret area on the airfield at Heathrow Airport that's been named after an iconic sci-fi film - and I was lucky enough to visit.
It's one spot at Heathrow Airport that even the most determined passengers won't be able to access.
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This is because only authorised members of staff are permitted into the area.
Despite not being open to passengers, the area has a very specific function: to de-ice planes and make sure they're fit for take off in the cold weather.
When I arrived at the airport, I was immediately escorted through the staff security entrance by the British Airways team.
I was then led through a maze of grey corridors until I reached the airfield where I was greeted by a man named Dale Walsh.
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Dale is the Winter Operations and Aircraft Appearance Manager at British Airways.
After working for the company for 38 years, it's safe to say Dale knows a thing or two about de-icing planes.
After I pulled on a pair of steel-toe-capped boots and a fetching hi-vis jacket, Dale drove me across the airfield to British Airways' remote de-icing area, which is called Jedi.
Dale told Sun Online Travel: "When we first started Jedi, we had to bring the aircraft in via the wands, so a man would stand out there and bring in the aircraft.
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"From the tower looking down at night, they looked like they were something from Star Wars because all they could see were lightsabres being waved about, so it got the nickname Jedi."
While the area isn't quite its own galaxy or a film set, it provides a crucial service, especially when there's a cold snap in the UK.
While the bottom half looks like a regular lorry, there's a small cab on top, which I can only liken to a crane.
From the cab, a member of staff can drive both the lorry and operate the controls that are used to de-ice planes - and it's safe to say the planes certainly feel their force.
There are two places where the British Airways team can de-ice an aircraft at Heathrow Airport.
Dale added: "You can do it on stand at the gate where customers board or you can do it at a remote de-icing facility.
"Doing it on stand, you have to either do it pre all the services arriving or after the service is arriving, though the icing on a narrow-body aircraft would take between 15 to 20 minutes, a wide body can take 30 to 35 minutes, so straight away you're into delay of the departure of that aircraft."
"Having a remote de-icing facility means that the aircraft can be fully loaded and can leave to stand on time, and while on its taxi to the runway, it can come through the remote de-icing facility we have here.
"If it does that, we can treat the aircraft in 5 to 6 minutes, depending on size."
When the planes arrive at Jedi, there are four of the lorries waiting to spray the wings and the tail with de-icing fluid - it's a bit like going through a car wash.
Dale added: "We've given them colours, bright colours, so the icing to take the contamination [ice or snow] off the wings is a bright orange, so it's clear what we sprayed the aircraft with.
"And then to protect the aircraft, we use anti-ice, and that is like a lime green, luminous, colour."
While the planes that have been sprayed with the latter might appear like they've been dipped in algae, the liquid is used to stop ice from reforming on the aircraft.
As I stood in the ice tower at Jedi, which is used by the British Airways team to communicate with each other and other parts of Heathrow Airport, Dale affectionately told his team to enjoy the airport views.
He said: "There are people out there who would pay for these views."
I couldn't have agreed with Dale more because I'd certainly fork out a bob or two to be back on Jedi.
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Meanwhile, here's how to get to a secret viewing platform at Heathrow Airport.
Here's a clever airport hack that lets you avoid the crowds.
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