Denver Airport: Snow Operations And Management

Denver International Airport (DEN) is well-equipped to handle snow and has been recognised for its outstanding snow and ice removal operations. The airport has an extensive snow-removal programme that includes over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment and 120 pieces of landside equipment. DEN's snow-fighting team has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years and has received the prestigious Balchen/Post award for its efforts. While snow in Denver is not unusual, the airport's large size presents logistical challenges when it comes to clearing the runways, taxiways, and other surfaces. DEN's snow plan takes into account lessons learned from past blizzards and includes prioritised snow-removal areas, equipment routes, staffing plans, and equipment upgrades. The airport also has a dedicated ''snowman'' position in the FAA control tower to orchestrate runway closures and streamline communication between the snow removal team and the FAA.

Denver Airport's snow-fighting team

Denver International Airport's snow-fighting team has been finetuning its response to snow for over 25 years, and its efforts have been recognised with the prestigious Balchen/Post award. The Operations and Maintenance team works tirelessly to maintain safe and efficient operations on the airfield, Pena Boulevard, the broader street system, and exposed parking facilities, even in the worst weather.

The airport's snow-removal programme utilises cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment to maintain efficient and safe airfield functionality for airlines and the FAA, in all but the worst conditions. The programme is built on lessons learned from past blizzards and snowy winters, with DEN completely re-engineering its snow-removal strategy following back-to-back blizzards in 2006.

The snow-fighting team uses over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment to plough runways and taxiways, with an additional 120 pieces of equipment for landside operations, including clearing 300 lane miles of roads and 30 acres of parking lots. The team is divided across the east and west airfields, with the east airfield runways generally used for arrivals and the west for departures. The crews move in formation, consisting of multifunctional equipment, dedicated brooms and blowers, chemical trucks, sanders, and a friction measurement vehicle.

To streamline communication and coordination, the airport added a 'snowman' position in the FAA control tower to orchestrate runway closures with snow crew movement. This position has strengthened the relationship and level of trust between airport operations and the FAA, with the snowman participating in strategic planning conference calls to provide insights and gather input on the airport's snow removal plan.

Denver International Airport's snow-fighting team is dedicated to tackling Colorado's snowy months, ensuring that the airport remains operational during snowstorms through careful planning, training, and execution.

Snow removal equipment

Denver International Airport (DEN) has been recognised for its outstanding snow and ice removal operations, winning the prestigious Balchen/Post award in 2020. The airport's snow-fighting team has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years, and it continues to learn from past experiences and apply innovative solutions to keep runways clear.

The airport utilises a vast array of equipment to manage snow and ice, with over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment and an additional 120 pieces of equipment for landside operations. This includes runway plows, ramp plows, snow blowers, snow brooms, chemical trucks, sanders, and deicers. DEN also purchased multi-function machinery that can plough, sweep, and blow snow, and spread liquid and sand products simultaneously.

Communication and coordination are key to their successful snow removal operations. As a result of the 2006 blizzards, DEN added a 'snowman' position in the FAA control tower to orchestrate runway closures with snow crew movement, streamlining communication and bolstering the relationship with the FAA.

• Multi-function Machinery: These vehicles can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, such as ploughing, sweeping, and blowing snow, and spreading liquid and sand products to aid in snow and ice removal.
• Runway Plows and Ramp Plows: Used to clear snow and ice from runways and ramp areas, which are massive spaces that can accommodate side-by-side taxiing of four 747-400 aircraft.
• Snow Blowers: Powerful machines that can blow and remove large volumes of snow quickly and efficiently.
• Snow Brooms: Used in conjunction with ploughs and blowers to ensure effective snow removal.
• Chemical Trucks and Sanders: Apply de-icing chemicals and sand to runways and taxiways to melt snow and improve traction.
• Deicers: Vehicles that spray de-icing fluid onto aircraft surfaces to remove ice and snow, ensuring they are safe for flight.
• Yeti Snow Technology Driverless Snowploughs: Autonomous snowploughs capable of clearing large areas of snow per hour, designed to work under extreme conditions and low visibility.
• Mercedes Benz Arocs Snow Trucks: Self-driving snow trucks that communicate via real-time data exchange and follow a leader truck along a pre-mapped GPS route.

De-icing procedures

• Specialised Ground Crews: DEN relies on specialised ground handling services provided by companies like Just Aviation. These ground crews are equipped with cutting-edge technology and skilled technicians to perform precise glycol application, preventing ice buildup on aircraft.
• De-icing Pads and Runways: DEN has dedicated de-icing pads located near the runways to facilitate efficient de-icing operations. The airport's design ensures that de-icing operations are concentrated near runways, allowing for safe and smooth aircraft traffic flow.
• De-icing Fluids: DEN utilises different types of de-icing fluids (Type I, Type II, Type III, and Type IV) based on temperature and flight requirements. These fluids are applied using high-pressure dispersers, ensuring swift and thorough ice removal.
• De-icing Boots: Aircraft are equipped with specialised pneumatic de-icing boots on wings and tails. These boots rapidly alternate between inflation and deflation, breaking and shedding ice, ensuring safe takeoff and smooth flight.
• TKS Ice Protection System: This electro-mechanical system applies glycol through microscopic laser-drilled apertures onto aircraft surfaces, providing effective anti-icing protection.
• Advanced Heated Surfaces: Aircraft incorporate cutting-edge technology with integrated heated surfaces. By applying heat to leading edges and engine inlets, this approach prevents ice formation on critical components.
• Real-Time Weather Monitoring: De-icing operations are adjusted in real-time using data from ground sensors and satellite imagery. This ensures precise modifications based on dynamic weather patterns, optimising thermal management systems on aircraft surfaces.
• Glycol Recycling: DEN is one of the few airports in the US with an on-site glycol recycling facility. The recycled glycol is processed through mechanical vapour recompression and vacuum distillation to achieve a high purity level, which is then sold as industrial-grade propylene glycol.
• Environmental Sustainability: DEN prioritises environmental sustainability in its de-icing operations. The airport has one of the best collection rates of spent aircraft de-icing fluid (ADF) in the US, with an average collection rate of 69% over the past four de-icing seasons.
• Coordinated Snow Removal: DEN has a large fleet of over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment to plough runways and taxiways. The snow teams work in a coordinated manner, moving down the runway in a single pass to efficiently clear snow and ice.

Snow removal personnel

The snow-removal personnel are aided by over 300 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment and 275 pieces of equipment for landside parking lots and roadways. The equipment includes blowers, brooms, blades, plows, runway sanders, snow melters, 5,000-gallon chemical trucks, loaders with box plows, bobcats, and bobcats with box plows.

The snow-removal personnel work in close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) control tower, which orchestrates runway closures with snow crew movement. The addition of a 'snowman' position in the FAA control tower has streamlined communication between the snow removal team and the FAA, bolstering the relationship and level of trust.

The snow removal personnel are divided into teams for the east and west airfields, with runways on the east generally used for arrivals and those on the west for departures. The teams work in formation, consisting of multifunctional equipment and dedicated brooms and blowers, followed by chemical trucks, sanders, and a friction measurement vehicle.

The snow removal personnel are deployed at the start of the snowfall and remain in place 24/7 for the duration of the event. They work tirelessly to maintain safe and efficient operations, even in the worst weather, ensuring that the airport remains open during snowstorms.

Snow removal operations

Denver International Airport has a robust snow removal programme, employing nearly 600 trained personnel and utilising over 324 pieces of airside snow removal equipment, with an additional 275 pieces of equipment for landside parking lots and roadways. The airport's snow-fighting team has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years, and in 2020, it was recognised with the prestigious Balchen/Post award for outstanding snow and ice removal operations.

The airport's snow removal operations are divided into "airside" and "landside" activities. Airside operations involve clearing runways, taxiways, and ramp areas, while landside operations include clearing Peña Boulevard, parking lots, and other roads. The airport uses a range of equipment, including blowers, brooms, blades, plows, runway sanders, snow melters, chemical trucks, loaders with box plows, and bobcats.

Communication and coordination are crucial to the success of snow removal operations. The airport added a dedicated \"snowman\" position in the FAA control tower to orchestrate runway closures with snow crew movement, streamlining communication and bolstering the relationship with the FAA. The snowman also participates in strategic planning conference calls to provide insights into the airport's snow removal plan and allow for input from the FAA and stakeholders.

The airport's snow plan is continuously evaluated and improved based on lessons learned from past snow events. For example, after the 2006 blizzards, the airport re-engineered its snow-removal programme, prioritising snow-removal areas, equipment routes, staffing plans, and equipment upgrades.

During snow events, crews are deployed at the start of the snowfall and remain in place 24/7 until the event concludes. The airport also maintains a sufficient supply of chemicals, sand, and deicing fluid to ensure effective snow and ice removal.

Denver International Airport's snow removal operations are designed to maintain a safe operating area for aircraft and minimise delays. By utilising multi-functional equipment and implementing technological advancements, the airport has reduced the average time needed to clear a runway from 45 minutes to under 15 minutes.

Frequently asked questions