After two cold and snowy winters in Europe, 2012 seems to be milder. What does this mean for airport managers who plan investing in de-snowing equipment? Courtney Henderson from Airport Management Degrees writes about that in this guest post.

Winter means one thing for airports; possible flight delays or cancellations due to snowy or icy conditions. However, with proper preparation and equipment, airport runways can be cleaned up and ready for use in no time. Although not all airports are located in areas that experience extreme winter weather, most airport directors know to keep at least the basic snow removal tools and equipment on-hand, as a precaution.

Airport managers and directors realize the importance of being prepared for all severe weather conditions; even conditions that aren’t common for their local climate. If heavy snow or icy conditions are forecasted and the airport does not have the necessary equipment to clear the runways, airports will be forced to shut down until they can get the help they need or the snow or ice melts. This is why keeping at least the basic equipment on-hand is essential.

Some airports (especially those that are located in warmer climates) include in their weather emergency plans a contract with a snow-removal company. This company can be trusted to provide the equipmentand manpower needed for proper snow and ice removal, should the occasion arrive.

Most major airports that are located in cooler climates own, maintain and operate their own snow- removal system. Although purchasing snow-removal tools and equipment is a large initial investment, these airports save money in the long run by managing their own operation.

It’s important to have the right tools to keep an airport running throughout any severe weather episode. If an airport is forced to delay airlines or shut down, that is lost money for everyone (airlines, airport concessions and airport management). Listed below are five tools necessary to keep airports running smoothly in snowy or icy conditions.

1. Chassis: A chassis is the tractor portion of the snow-removal equipment. This is the vehicle that you connect the runway broom, snow blower or plow to. This large truck is usually four-wheel drive to allow for better control and traction on slick surfaces. A popular model of chassis, called multi-tasking equipment (MTE), allows the operator to attach all three tools (the runway broom, snow blower and plow) to the tractor. Some allow only one piece of equipment to be attached at a time, and some allow two at a time. For example, some tractors can plow snow and brush runways at the same time.

2. Runway Broom: A runway broom is a powerful tool that is used to clear off any residual snow or ice after the runway has been plowed.

3. Snow Blower: A snow blower is used to quickly blow snow from one area to another.

4. Plow: A snow plow is used to remove a large amount of snow from a pathway and place it in a large pile.

5. Runway De-Icer: A runway de-icer is used to disseminate massive amounts of road salt in order to melt all ice. This equipment is used after all snow has been removed from the runway.

How many tractors, plows, brooms, blowers and de-icers purchased depends on the size and function of the airport. As stated before, if the airport is located in a warmer climate or is a small airport, finding a trusted snow-removal company may be a better investment than purchasing your own equipment.

Courtney Henderson is writer and editor for Airport Management Degrees. In her spare time, she likes to write guest articles for various websites on various topics of interest.

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