Airline says it told Monroe Regional Airport (KMLU) of its wiring needs in advance

American Airlines says a problem it faced with its plane de-icer at Monroe Regional Airport last week was because of incompatible wiring at the airport’s new terminal.

The airline had informed airport officials of its specific wiring needs in order for its de-icer machine to work before the new terminal’s construction, said Ed Martelle, spokesman for American Eagle, a regional partner for American Airlines.

Last week, passengers were frustrated that flight 4780 to Dallas-Fort Worth was delayed by about two hours because the plane was coated with ice. The airline's de-icer machine wouldn’t work, said passenger David Abbitt, and the pilot told passengers it was because the new terminal wasn’t equipped with the power outlets needed to support it, he said.

Airport Director Cleve Norrell this week said that wasn’t the case.

The airport is fully equipped with power outlets that are compatible for “all kinds of connections,” he said.

It was the airlines that had incorrectly identified the voltage for their machine, he said.

“It was a problem that they had, but they thought it was our plug,” Norrell said. “They thought their machine was 230 volts but it was actually 120 volts.”

But airport officials knew about the voltage requirements before the new terminal was constructed, according to Martelle.

“During the terminal planning and construction process, Eagle had indicated to the airport that the de-icing equipment required 240-volt power in order to operate,” he wrote to The News-Star. “Our general manager was not notified until the first day of operation at the new terminal that is was wired only to 208 volts, which was inconsistent with the specifications that were submitted.”

Norrell on Thursday said the voltage incompatibility was swiftly addressed by the airlines’ mechanic, which Martelle confirmed Friday.

“To ensure we were able to de-ice our aircraft and maintain safe, uninterrupted service to our customers, Eagle sent a maintenance team to Monroe at company expense, to re-wire the equipment in order to be compatible,” Martelle said.

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