Traction as in air over the prop or coverting torque to go-go-go! through your car tyres 😉

Alternatives? You need to source I would imagine an isoprop alcy mix that is safe to use on paintwork. Does Halfords do anything similar?

ICAO unsurprisingly has a regs on it and so is liely to be replicated in JAR-OPS also. ICAO DOC 9640 – Manual of Aircraft Ground De-Icing/Anti-Icing. Just out of interest there are three methods of removing ice whilst on the ground. From my textbook:

1. Hot Water … heated to a maximum temperature of 95°C … pressure sprayed onto the airframe to melt and blast away the snow/ice. After a surface has been de-iced, it must either be dried or treated within three minutes.

2. Fluid DE-icing … applied heated to a minimum temperature of 60°C at the nozzle in order to assure maximum efficiency and sprayed at a pressure of 100 psi.

3. Fluid ANTI-Icing … normally 100% concentrations of type II/IV fluids are used for anti-icing purposes on uncontaminated aeroplane surfaces… normally applied unheated. In extremes of climate…can be heated to a max of 60°C but if the fluid is overheated the thickening agent in the fluid forms into a gel.

The ideal one therefore is the last item. Spray, leave, then wipe off the slush.