Abstract: Formulations for anti-icing compositions are of two basic types. The first basic formulation describes alcohol/polyol-based aqueous fluids thickened by the combination of an acrylic emulsion and a water-swellable layered clay mineral, with optional addition of a surfactant combination comprised of a first surfactant with an HLB≦3 coupled with a second surfactant with an HLB 19, and further optional addition of a water-activated polymer and other components. The second basic formulation describes a polyol-based aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol with optional thickeners.