deicer

fleet mechanic

mechanic

operations manager

operations supervisor

Integrated Deicing Services

Formal Feedback: Training, Communication, and Safety Concerns
​Part 1: Training Deficiencies
​The initial classroom training provides an adequate foundation, though the volume of information delivered in a short window is significant. However, the transition to "Core" training is concerning. Currently, a single 8-hour shift involving one run through a cone course is the only practical requirement before an employee is signed off to de-ice aircraft.
​Following this minimal hands-on experience, there is an unrealistic expectation to have mastered over 200 pages of technical procedures. The training environment is further hampered by an intimidating instructional style from lead trainers that discourages retention. Furthermore, new hires are frequently paired together without a seasoned operator, creating a "blind leading the blind" scenario that compromises safety. When questions are asked, the response from senior staff is often belittling rather than instructional.

​Part 2: Communication and Workplace Culture
​There is a stark contrast between the company’s stated "non-toxic" policy and the reality of the work environment. I have personally witnessed a supervisor using derogatory slurs regarding mental disabilities to describe new hires. Additionally, certain leads fail to communicate procedures clearly or bypass safety protocols entirely out of frustration. This lack of professional guidance leaves new employees with little support, forcing them to rely solely on other inexperienced teammates.

​Part 3: Equipment and Safety Hazards
​Equipment reliability is a major concern. During a recent shift, Vehicle 936 exhibited several critical failures:
​Communication: The radio functioned only intermittently, posing a safety risk during active airfield operations.
​Mechanical: The "check engine" light was active, and the bucket experienced significant, unstable swaying.
​Preparedness: The vehicle’s integrated toolbox was completely empty, leaving the operator unable to perform basic field adjustments.

​Part 4: Leadership Concerns
​There are specific members of the leadership and supervisory team who consistently display a lack of respect toward subordinates. While I am not listing specific names in this document, their conduct is a primary driver of poor morale and low job retention within the department.

Where to start? Used to be a good place to work, everyone was a team player, each hand washed the other.

Job/work life balance:
The few mechanics we had start at 3 Am and work till 11pm in shifts, and usually under staffed. Once a snow event hits overtime was usually a given due to this fact. 

Benefits: 
Family plan plus vision and dental  was  around 700 a month or better last i seen. Before Obama care hit it was much more affordable.  They offer a 401k if you can afford to pay in to it.

Job security:
Not much there. They hire any given 200 "operations" employees per station in the fall, like others said the buddy system will get you far. Once you become the select few you can really suck in the overtime. The others will have moved on by then. 

Job pay scale has a wide range. Like a 10+ dollar swing for people doing the same job.  
Pay raises go off performance... You will never get a 10 out of 10 on those. They claim there is always "room for improvement "  in 6 years I had 3 raises  maybe a 1.50 total

Management: 
Management could be better. In the years I seen them hang each other to save there own hides many times, blaming each other for mishaps that they should have taken care of themselves yet delegated to others. Also a BIG player in the buddy system. Unless you are best friends with the high ups prior to being hired you don't have much of a chance to advance past supervisor. 

Culture: 
I loved the coworkers,  work and challenges, missed my family allot during those winter months.

Working at our location, you find out very quickly that the one in charge of scheduling, doesn't live up to the end of the bargain.  

Unless you can play the buddy system very well.  This is not the job for you.  Hours tend to get handed to those who are friends with the scheduling manager.

Regardless of this issue, it is proven week in, and week out, that these same people are allowed to come and go as they please.  Dropping shifts, and no call no shows, go unnoticed.  While those of us wanting the hours, get scheduled one shift a week.

The job itself is very simple, training was not done very well, as is evident with some of the co workers.  The issues of, zero breaks.  Ive been out there for 7 hours, without a break.  (Sorry, I dont count it as a break, unless I can go smoke). Which you cant do, out on the runway.  If you have to use restroom,  be prepared to have to go outside, in front of everyone, next to your truck.  

I would suggest , dont waste your time.  You will not make money at this location. If your looking for fast cash, dont look to this.  Took a month and a half to get first check, due to a issue the company was experiencing with one of the airliners.  

They hired too many people at this location, is why you cant get shifts.  And that is a management issue.  Top to bottom, this location needs to be looked at.  From the owners point, and they need to come in and speak with the employees.  Without fear of retribution from the horrible management in this location.

Anxiety levels went skyward every shift. It is a cool job, but being 50' in the air behind a planes' idling engine(causing turbulence for you) with three joy sticks in your control all doing different things, (driving the truck, moving the basket, moving the arm your basket is connected to, moving the spray nozzle, chosing what to spray and what pattern to spray) while managing everything you do on the iPad AND clipboard while on a time limit and listening to two separate radios..(one for communication between teammates and one for communication with the planes' pilot)..and youre rushing to spray the tail down from that height, in that turbulence and then, from that height, positioning yourself into the turbulence to drive the truck that's below you around the 50 million dollar airplane to the other side to complete the other side of the tail. And DO NOT forget to flip that toggle on the center joystick once you're in position or you might just grab that joystick by accident and drive yourself into that very expensive plane..the plane you're 8" away from, 50' in the air, being blown about by the planes' engine...oh and youre on a time crunch. Hurry. 

Or...do all that but now you're on the upper half of the plane with 75 pairs of eyes watching you because the plane is full of passengers and crew.....

Don't mess up. 

$12.50 an hour was not worth that mess.

If you're considering working for Integrated Deicing Services (IDS) at the Indianapolis station, be aware that career advancement here is extremely limited. Since IDS was acquired by Inland, the focus on deicing has diminished, and the company's priorities seem to have shifted elsewhere.

The biggest issue at this location is management. Leads are essentially responsible for running the entire operation, while upper management sits at their desks, doing little to support the team. Any promises made about career growth should be taken with a grain of salt, as they often go unfulfilled.

Supervisors, in particular, are treated as expendable. In the last four years, the Indianapolis station has cycled through four different supervisors, yet the General Manager remains untouched and unquestioned. This should be a major red flag for anyone considering moving up the ranks here.

If you're looking for real advancement opportunities within IDS, you're better off applying to a larger station like Cincinnati. Working at Indianapolis isn't necessarily a bad choice, but if you aim to move beyond a lead position, proceed with caution.

If you’re looking for a quick turn around and good pay, this job is great, though you might have a hard time getting hired without knowing someone who works there already. You also schedule yourself entirely by applying for shifts you’d like to work each week, which are generally accepted by the scheduling manager. Be prepared to be bombarded on your off days though.

You’ll spend most of your time sitting and twiddling your thumbs in your truck, which sounds great given the pay rate, but quickly becomes awful as they are cramped, uncomfortable, and very noisy. An actual break is hard to come by but usually you have some time to sit and eat in the office. 

The work and accommodations are not the worst. It’s fun and very entertaining to spray as a deicer and you are among the people who come closest to the aircraft which is awesome. The management however is going to make you hate your life. They aren’t good people in or out of work and you’ll be interacting with them frequently. The atmosphere is palpable with stress when an aircraft comes in as they are going to be eyeballing your every move to make you work as fast as possible to meet quotas and get themselves bonuses. 

The work at IDS is usually pretty consistent in your required tasks depending on the shifts you work. You start with inspecting your deice truck and taking fluid samples. Night shift is the primary shift that deices aircraft (at least at my station). 1st Shift and 2nd shift refills trucks with deicing fluid, fuels, and other random to do tasks.

You tend to learn a lot about aviation and deicing just by being there long enough as well as other neat behind the scenes airport activities. So if you enjoy aviation, you will like it there.

Management can be as good or bad as you are willing to be. If you are making their lives easier, they will return the favor. If you need help or time off, just ask and they will work with you.

Deicing is an overall easy job, heavy snow events can get very stressful though, but they are more rare. Expect free time, there will be a lot of it.

For a company who claims to “value” their employees during training to get you all excited, it’s not what it is. On holidays their appreciation for you being there is a case of cookies that went on clearance at Walmart. Everybody talks bad about each other ESPECIALLY management. & On days that you do actually spray a plane, heaven forbid you get human rights. They don’t bother to really provide food for you as they try to keep you out on the pad all day, they very seldom let you use the restroom, & they sometimes cheat you on your pay. Yes you read that right. My first check I had 27 hours logged but I was only paid for 25 just so they could round things up to an even number. It doesn’t matter if you sign in or log into ADP, you’ll get cheated somewhere along your pay. They don’t do much to prevent COVID either other than steaming the trailers every now & then & sometimes trucks. The bathrooms are DIRTY, coffee tastes like trash, & so forth. The only benefit of this job is the excitement from actually spraying a plane. Other than that, don’t work here. You’re worth more than what they try to put you through.  

I've worked for IDS for 7 seasons beginning in 2016. 

Beginning of the shift consisted of a pre-operational report followed by a 360° truck check to ensure the deicing truck is in working order. When the aircraft would approach the deice pad, we would have pre-deice communications with the pilot to ensure the proper treatment of the aircraft (dependent on weather conditions). When completed, we would then commence with post-deice reports to the captain to ensure that the aircraft was clean and ready to take off.

There is a high sense of regard for employee safety, especially in this field of work. Training for the position was superb and effective. The hours were flexible, the pay was good, and I've made many life-long friends at this business. What they do is super important for those travelling via airplane.

I was so glad to have spent the winters here at this company. I am sad to leave for the time being, but I can assure that this is a great place to work for college kids and those who need some extra money.

Working at IAD, management and coworkers were always friendly, and extremely helpful. The application and training process were made very simple, with very minimal stress. Both fundamental and practical training were thorough and streamlined, giving me full confidence in my ability to work with no prior experience. Deicers work on an active airfield in close proximity to aircraft, paying attention, following procedure, and relying on your partner is crucial, safety always comes first, so long as you're able to do that, the work itself is fairly easy, straightforward, and fun. Always be willing to ask as many questions as you need, even if they're repeats, everybody is always supportive and ready to give you an answer. Most shifts outside active weather events include a lot of downtime, allowing you to use your phone, read, or catch up on sleep during an early morning shift. Highly recommended working here, especially if you're interested in aviation, my experience has been nothing but positive.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Deicer 47 salaries reported	$20.35 per hour
Fleet mechanic 9 salaries reported	$29.94 per hour
Mechanic 9 salaries reported	$31.33 per hour
Operations manager 9 salaries reported	$74,972 per year
Operations supervisor 6 salaries reported	$62,250 per year

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