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Winter operations - Articles and news items
Issue 4 2007, Past issues / 31 July 2007 /
On December 20, 2006, Denver International Airport faced a snowstorm that challenged every single aspect of the operation. The storm, now commonly referred to as the December Blizzard of ‘06, brought over 20 inches of snow, with wind gusts above 40 mph and white-out conditions to the Denver area.
These conditions eventually caused DEN to close for 45 hours during the worst possible time of year, the pre-Christmas rush. The lengthy airport closure cost the hub carriers at Denver millions of dollars, stranded nearly 5,000 passengers at the airport – ruining holiday plans for many – and sent ripple effects through the airspace system that took several days to level out. Afterwards, DEN senior management, including the newly hired directors of Airport Operations and Airport Maintenance, John Kinney and Ruth Rodriguez, closely examined every aspect of the events before, during and after the storm to find areas that could be improved upon, as well as to identify future challenges. In the end, the December Blizzard has proven to be a catalyst for DEN to reinvent its winter operations program. (more…)
Issue 4 2006, Past issues / 1 December 2006 /
Better than yesterday – but not as good as tomorrow. The quest for excellence characterises Avinor’s everyday activities and long-term plans in the operation of 46 airports throughout Norway’s demanding topography and harsh winter conditions. (more…)
Issue 3 2006, Past issues / 11 September 2006 /
How does an airport that experiences Arctic type weather consistently remain open? Daniel Hartman discusses the demands of an Alaskan winter, when ambient temperatures can fall as low as -38 degrees, with wind chills down to -60, equipment oil and hydraulic fluids are like thick syrup and starter heads blow apart when started.
The location of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (IATA: ANC) less than 9 ½ hours by air from 90 per cent of the industrialised world, has enabled it to become the preeminent international cargo crossroad for transpacific freighter activity. It also demands faultless winter operations; average seasonal snowfall is 69 inches, with records as much as 132.8 inches. 24 hour snow accumulation has, in the past, reached 27.6 inches, other airports with more equipment and personnel have closed after receiving as little as two inches. (more…)
Issue 4 2005, Past issues / 25 November 2005 /
Controlling ice and snow in major hub operations is an increasingly challenging task. In this article, Munich Airport reveals what it takes to remain open through the winter months.
A single runway closure of 30 minutes can easily build up to average delays of 2-3 hours with a traffic density on the scale of 70-90 movements per hour. Subsequently, if ATC doesn´t imposing pre-tactical flow control measures, the holding stock capacity of major airports can easily be exceeded when snow clearance requires a sudden runway closure during peak hours.
After completion of the runway clearance, delays can be further exacerbated by bottlenecks in remote aircraft de-icing areas. Crew duty hour limitations on long-haul services might also result in cancellations, even if the initial weather-induced delay was only minor.
Another consideration is that an initial departure delay is exacerbated if the aircraft cannot keep its slot. This situation may even worsen if the destination airport is also subject to weather-related closures and delays. Night flight restrictions, which are a very present concern here in Germany, also limit the capability to absorb delays, causing backlogs in scheduling the following day. (more…)
Issue 3 2005, Past issues / 16 September 2005 /
Dealing with the cold and snow has recently received an upheaval at Toronto Pearson and in this article Eric Tolton reveals some of the new methods.
Unimpeded access to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport is a requirement for millions of people each year. Snow clearance, snow removal and ice control operations are some of the most critical and costly components of operating the airport. The areas requiring snow clearance and removal are in excess of 2,500,000 square metres – the equivalent of four hundred kilometres of two-lane highway.
Since the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) assumed responsibility for the management, operation and maintenance of Toronto Pearson from the federal government in 1996, the airport has undergone a substantial physical transformation. A comprehensive redevelopment program was initiated by the GTAA to aid the fulfilment of its mandate and to allow Toronto Pearson to keep pace with the rapidly growing travel needs of southern Ontario. The Airport Development Program (ADP) is a 10-year, $4.4 billion plan that includes four major aspects: Terminal Development, Airside Development, Infield Development and Utilities and Airport Support. (more…)
Issue 3 2005, Past issues / 16 September 2005 /
In this article Doug Johnson describes how aviation users can utilise improved meteorological information to move beyond minimum safety requirements and towards increased business benefits.
Airlines and pilots rely on weather information on a daily basis in order to make safety-critical decisions. Commercial airlines are duty-bound to follow the strict regulations laid down by ICAO Annex 3 and other regulatory bodies on the use of weather information for operational safety. However, despite huge strides forward in terms of forecasting capability, these requirements have remained essentially unchanged since 1984.
Aviation has also traditionally used weather in a limited way for improving business performance, e.g. the use of wind and temperature information in calculating optimum flight routes. However, with the significant developments in weather forecasting during the last 20 years, we believe that airlines, airports and air traffic controllers can be helped to use these enhanced capabilities more intelligently and, ultimately, make better business and operational decisions through the reduction of avoidable weather-related delays. (more…)
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