Ruth Haines
Snow can cause major disruptions to air traffic, much like it does on the roads. Airports have to take special precautions to ensure that aircraft can operate safely. When runways are covered in snow, taxiing, takeoff and landing can become impossible, and the friction required by the aircraft's wheels to maintain control is affected. Airports have to activate special protocols to minimise risks, which can include shutting down runways periodically so that they can be cleared of snow, de-icing aircraft before departure, and slowing down the work of baggage handlers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Everything slows down | Planes take off every 90 seconds instead of every 45 seconds |
| Baggage handling | Baggage handlers must move slower because of slippery conditions |
| De-icing | Planes must be actively de-iced before taking off |
| Runway closures | Runways need to be shut down periodically so they can be cleared of snow |
| Cancelled flights | An airport's ability to handle arriving and departing aircraft can be cut in half, resulting in a lot of cancelled flights |
| Taxiing | Taxiing can be hazardous if the runways are covered in snow or ice |
| Takeoff and landing | Takeoff and landing can be hazardous if the runways are covered in snow or ice |
| Special protocols | Airports activate special protocols when significant snowfall is detected |
| De-icing fluids | De-icing fluid may be sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built upon the aircraft's flight surfaces |
| Types of de-icing fluids | There are four different types of de-icing and anti-icing fluids, named type I, II, III, and IV |
| Snow removal | Some airports use plows to remove snow, while others use giant spinning brooms |
| Chemicals | If rain is turning to snow, airports will use dry chemicals and less liquid so it doesn't wash away |
| Snow and ice control plan | Airports must develop a snow and ice control plan, and conduct runway friction surveys to determine if it's safe for a plane to land or take off |
What You'll Learn
Clearing snow from runways
When it snows, everything at an airport slows down. Runways need to be shut down periodically so that they can be cleared of snow. This is done by an army of trucks with giant plows and brushes. Some airports use giant spinning brooms to clear the way. If the snow is particularly heavy and wet, airports will use plows to remove it. If it's dry, blowing snow, they will use giant spinning brooms. If it's rain turning to snow, airports will use dry chemicals and less liquid so it doesn't all wash away.
Airports cannot have potholes on the runway, so they use polyurethane blades that are gentler on the surface. The process is heavily regulated by an FAA document called the Airport Winter Safety and Operations advisory circular. The document advises airport operators on how to develop a snow and ice control plan, and tells them how to conduct runway friction surveys to determine if it's safe for a plane to land or take off.
Snow and ice on the runway can make taxiing, takeoff, and landing impossible. It affects the friction required by the aircraft's wheels to maintain control during these critical maneuvers. Therefore, planes must be actively deiced before taking off. De-icing fluid may be sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built upon the aircraft's flight surfaces. If they remained, they could disrupt the airflow over the flight surfaces. In the worst cases, this could down a plane.
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De-icing aircraft
There are four different types of de-icing and anti-icing fluids, named type I, II, III, and IV. Type one fluids are very dilute and will quickly come off an aircraft moving through the air. Airports need specialised (and expensive) formulas that don't affect the metal on the airframe. The process is heavily regulated by an FAA document called the Airport Winter Safety and Operations advisory circular, which advises airport operators on how to develop a snow and ice control plan.
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Safety procedures
When it snows, everything at an airport slows down. Planes must be de-iced before taking off, and runways need to be shut down periodically so that they can be cleared of snow and ice. This can be done with giant plows and brushes, or giant spinning brooms, depending on the type of snow. De-icing fluid may also be sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built up on the aircraft's flight surfaces. This is because ice and snow can disrupt the airflow over the flight surfaces, which could cause a plane to go down.
Airports need to follow specialised and heavily regulated procedures to ensure the safety of their runways. The FAA document, *Airport Winter Safety and Operations* advisory circular, advises airport operators on how to develop a snow and ice control plan and how to conduct runway friction surveys to determine if it's safe for a plane to land or take off.
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Specialised equipment
When snow hits, airports need to deploy specialised equipment to keep runways clear and planes safe. The type of equipment used depends on the type of snow, with heavy, wet snow requiring plows to remove it, while dry, blowing snow can be cleared with giant spinning brooms. If rain is turning to snow, dry chemicals are used to prevent it from washing away.
One of the most crucial aspects of winter airport operations is de-icing aircraft before departure. De-icing fluid is sprayed on an airplane to remove any snow or ice built up on the aircraft's flight surfaces, which could otherwise disrupt the airflow and cause the plane to go down. There are four different types of de-icing and anti-icing fluids, with type one fluids being very dilute and quickly coming off the aircraft once it is in the air.
Airports also need to use specialised formulas that don't affect the metal on the airframe, as corrosion and airplanes do not mix. For example, instead of steel-tipped snowplough blades, which can cause potholes, airports use polyurethane blades that are gentler on the runway surface.
The process of snow and ice removal at airports is heavily regulated by an FAA document called the Airport Winter Safety and Operations advisory circular. This document advises airport operators on how to develop a snow and ice control plan and how to conduct runway friction surveys to determine if it's safe for a plane to land or take off.
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Cancelled flights
When it snows, everything at an airport slows down. Planes need to be de-iced before taking off, and runways need to be shut down periodically so they can be cleared of snow. This can cause a lot of cancelled flights, as an airport's ability to handle arriving and departing aircraft can be cut in half, or worse.
Snow can cause major disruptions in air traffic, much like it does on the roads. When runways are covered in snow, taxiing, takeoff, and landing can become impossible. Takeoffs, landings, and taxiing can be hazardous if the runways are covered in snow or ice, as it affects the friction required by the aircraft's wheels to maintain control during these critical manoeuvres.
De-icing fluid may be sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built upon the aircraft's flight surfaces. If they remained, they could disrupt the airflow over the flight surfaces. In the worst cases, this could down a plane.
Some airports get lots of heavy, wet snow and need to use plows to remove it. Other airports get dry, blowing snow, and can use what are effectively giant spinning brooms to clear the way. If it's rain turning to snow, airports will use dry chemicals and less liquid so it doesn't all wash away, and vice versa. Airports need specialized (and really expensive) formulas that don't affect the metal on the airframe.
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Frequently asked questions
Everything slows down. Runways need to be shut down periodically so they can be cleared of snow, planes must be de-iced before taking off, and baggage handlers must move slower because of slippery conditions.
They use trucks with giant plows and brushes to get them down to bare pavement. Some airports use giant spinning brooms to clear snow, while others use dry chemicals and less liquid if rain is turning to snow.
Snow and ice can disrupt the airflow over the flight surfaces, which in the worst cases could down a plane.
De-icing fluid is sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built upon the aircraft's flight surfaces. There are four different types of de-icing and anti-icing fluids, named type I, II, III, and IV.
The process is heavily regulated by an FAA document called the Airport Winter Safety and Operations advisory circular. The document advises airport operators on how to develop a snow and ice control plan, and tells them how to conduct runway friction surveys to determine if it's safe for a plane to land or take off.
