Airports' Strategies For Tackling Ice And Maintaining Safety

Airports employ various strategies to deal with ice and snow buildup, including snowploughs, snow blowers, runway sweepers, and de-icing fluids for aircraft. Despite rising global temperatures, winters are becoming colder, and airports must invest in snow removal equipment and vehicles to keep runways clear. Dealing with ice and snow is a significant challenge, as it slows down airport operations, reduces aircraft takeoff and braking capabilities, and can lead to flight cancellations.

De-icing aircraft before departure

De-icing aircraft is just one aspect of how airports deal with ice. Snowploughs and snow blowers are the first line of defence against ice and snow buildup. Many airports also use runway sweepers, which are rotary brushes with steel bristles that remove snow and ice by abrasion. Specialist teams frequently check conditions during snowy weather, and airports may use snow clearance vehicles and de-icers to prevent ice.

Despite these measures, ice can still cause significant disruptions to airport operations. Baggage handlers must work more slowly due to slippery conditions, and runways need to be shut down periodically to clear ice and snow. As a result, an airport's ability to handle arriving and departing aircraft can be cut in half, leading to many cancelled flights.

Snowploughs and snow blowers

On very snowy days, it is not unusual to see a team of snowploughs tending to the runways and taxiways to keep them clear of snow and ice. For instance, more than 1,300 tonnes of snow was removed from the runways at Southampton Airport on one day in December 2010. Specialist teams also frequently check the conditions during snowy weather, sometimes as often as every 15 minutes, and they have specialist equipment to check the amount of grip available.

Snow clearance is relatively easy if the snow is dry. However, once it starts to melt and then refreeze, problems emerge. This is why the biggest priority is keeping ice from forming on runways. Snow and rain can be dealt with easily, but once ice bonds to the runway surface, it takes a lot of work to get back down to dry pavement.

While snowploughs and snow blowers are an effective way to remove snow and ice, they are not the only methods used by airports. For example, many airports also use runway sweepers, which are large rotary brushes with steel bristles that remove snow and ice by abrasion.

Specialist vehicles to recover de-icing liquid

De-icing vehicles at airports are equipped with large tanks that contain de-icing fluids such as glycol. They are used to remove snow, ice and frost from the exterior of aircraft before takeoff. During cold weather, ice can accumulate on the wings, tail and fuselage of an aircraft, which can interfere with the aerodynamics of the plane and potentially cause it to crash. To prevent this from happening, de-icing trucks spray a mixture of water and de-icing fluid onto the aircraft's surface, breaking up and removing the ice.

Some airports recycle used de-icing fluid by separating water and solid contaminants, enabling the fluid to be reused in other applications. Other airports have an on-site wastewater treatment facility, or send collected fluid to a municipal or commercial wastewater treatment facility.

The Icebear W series of de-icing spreaders is designed for mounting on large carrier vehicles and semi-trailers. It can be used with both liquid and solid de-icing agents, and features a double auger system. The WGFS24Y Airport Deicing Fluid & Anti-Icing Fluid Sprayer is another example of a de-icing vehicle that can be mounted on a trailer. It features a standard 500-gallon tank for de-icing fluid.

Training exercises to deal with ice and snow

Training exercises are an important part of an airport's strategy to deal with ice and snow. Airports such as Schiphol in Amsterdam regularly conduct training exercises to prepare for harsh winter weather. These exercises are based on well-choreographed plans that help airports deal with various scenarios.

Snowploughs and snow blowers are the first line of defence against ice and snow build-up. Airports also use runway sweepers, which are rotary brushes with steel bristles that remove snow and ice by abrasion. The volume of snow that needs to be removed can be extraordinary, with over 1,300 tonnes of snow removed from Southampton Airport's runways in a single day in December 2010. Therefore, training exercises should prepare staff to use this equipment efficiently and effectively.

Specialist teams are also deployed to frequently check conditions during snowy weather, sometimes as often as every 15 minutes. These teams have specialist equipment to check the grip available on the runway. As such, training exercises should also involve educating staff on using this equipment and interpreting the results.

Additionally, training exercises should cover the process of de-icing aircraft before departure. De-icing fluid may be sprayed on an airplane to remove snow or ice built upon its flight surfaces, which could otherwise disrupt airflow and cause a plane to go down. According to NASA, there are four types of de-icing and anti-icing fluids, with varying levels of thickness and protection duration. Staff should be trained to select the appropriate type of fluid and apply it effectively.

Keeping runways clear

Airports prepare for bad weather with well-choreographed plans. They use modern chemicals, snow-moving equipment, and good planning to keep runways clear. Snowploughs and snow blowers are the first line of defence against ice and snow buildup. Airports also use runway sweepers, which are large brushes with steel bristles that remove snow and ice by abrasion. More than 1,300 tons of snow was removed from the runways at Southampton Airport in the UK in one day in December 2010.

Specialist teams frequently check conditions during snowy weather, sometimes as often as every 15 minutes. They have specialist equipment to check how much grip is available. Snow clearance is relatively easy if the snow is dry. However, once it starts to melt and then refreeze, problems emerge.

De-icing fluid may be sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built up on the aircraft's flight surfaces. If this ice and snow remained, they could disrupt the airflow.

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