Airfield Snow Removal Tactics

Runway Condition?

The Snow Plan

Snow Plan Design

• Create a specific plan of action, well before the season arrives

• Establish airfield priorities and runway maintenance times

• Snow removal operations should be both interactive and systematic, involving a collaborative effort on behalf of multiple agencies

Team Effort

• Airport operations designs the snow plan to achieve specific goals during a snow event

• Include the FAA (tower) to understand it’s role in snow removal.

• Include the airlines to support a proactive snow plan

• Include airfield maintenance to execute the plan

The Equipment

Hydrostatic Brooms•Produced better friction results

•Restricted capability in heavy snow accumulations

Plow Truck and Broom Truck

Multi-Tasking Equipment (MTE)

MTE Advantages• Plow, sweep and air blast the surface in

one pass

• High performance capability reduces runway occupancy times (30mph plus)

• One person operation promotes effective utilization of human resources

• The MTE operates effectively in snow accumulations from 0 to 30 inches

Snow Blowers

Runway Team Configurations

Runway Deployment

Yellow Runway Team

Green Taxiway Team

Runway 08/2610,000ft long X 150ft wide Complete in 10 Minutes

Runway Team12,000 x 200ft

1 Operations Field Manager1 Airport Maintenance Supervisor

MANAGERS EQUIPMENT

11 Multi Tasking Equipment Lead Plow 2 High speed high capacity snow Blowers 2 4000 Gallon Chemical Tankers/90’ Spray Boom 1 Friction Measuring Vehicle 16 Total pieces of equipment

4 R

22L

Taxiway Team

EQUIPMENT

4 Multi Tasking equipment Lead plow1 4000 Gallon Chemical Tankers/50’ Spray Boom1 Blower 6 Total equipment

Tactical Equipment Program

16 Runway team 6 Taxiway team22 total number of equipment

Edge Light Plow

Multi Seasonal Equipment

Training and Safety

• Establish a training and safety position or department

• Develop consistent training procedures including pre and post operator equipment inspections

• Recurring training for airfield operators is required

• Establish operator accountability

Are You Ready?

Thank You