Climate change has made it increasingly difficult to predict the length and severity of the winter season. Airports must ensure they, their teams and their equipment are ready for even the most extreme winter weather, whenever it arrives.
Much has been written in these pages about how OEMS are harnessing the latest technology to drive solutions that not only keep runways clear of snow and aircraft free of ice, but do so sustainably. Good kit is crucial, but it requires operators that understand how to use it to its maximum effect, often in challenging weather conditions. This is made trickier by the seasonal element – airports must ensure staff are ready to act when needed, even if they are casual workers.
Sidelines to centre stage
It is not uncommon for airports to hire winter operations staff who spend the rest of their year undertaking work that’s not possible when there is snow or ice on the ground. Finavia is one such operator. Petri Vuori, senior VP of sales and routes development, told Airports International: “We have seasonal workers who come in only for the winter season, in two places: Helsinki, where we have to keep three runways open, and Lapland, where you have a heavy increase in traffic in winter compared with the summer season.
Effective winter operations are essential to Helsinki, which needs to keep three runways open year-round
“Luckily, we have a lot of returning staff who come for the winter and during summertime they do something else. They might be farming during summer or some of them might be working in road construction, which takes place in the warmer months.”
For Finavia, hiring farmers has another benefit. Their experience with heavy machinery means they are well suited to not only operating but helping maintain winter operations equipment. Vuori stressed that in the smaller regional airports, especially in Lapland, staff tend to return year after year. The bulk of them are local, with Vuori acknowledging that it is difficult for overseas workers to gain the necessary permissions to undertake seasonal work in Finland.
Likewise, in Alaska, the winter operations team is a combination of permanent and temporary staff. Alex Moss, deputy airport director of operations, safety and security at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, explained: “Anchorage International Airport employs a core team of full-time, permanent staff who are deeply experienced in winter operations and airfield maintenance. In addition, we bring on an additional 18 equipment operators each winter to ensure we have adequate manpower for the intense snow and ice control required. Many of these seasonal team members are recruited locally, and some return each year, bringing valuable knowledge of our unique winter operations.”
Pittsburgh International Airport, meanwhile, employs a small seasonal contingent, but the vast majority of its staff are full-time and permanent, according to Jim Moorhead, vice president of airport operations at the Pennsylvania hub: “We do add a few drivers and operators, but it is a very small percentage, and many are rehires from previous years. These are people who work in the construction trades, which slow down in winter, and we hire them from the union halls.”
Anchorage employs a core team of full-time, permanent staff experienced in winter operations and airfield maintenance
London Gatwick Airport may be in a less extreme winter locale than Alaska, but it is just as keen to be ready for snow. Around 200 airport staff – primarily from the security and passenger operations teams – have volunteered to be trained as ‘Polar Bears’, ready to operate Gatwick’s fleet of winter vehicles, including tractors and snow ploughs, should it snow heavily. The volunteers recently completed more than 4,000 hours of training as part of the airport’s preparations for dealing with adverse weather conditions this winter. Gatwick also has a team of ‘Yetis’ – landside volunteers who operate on a standby basis, ready to grit the 27 miles of the airport’s road network, including its bus routes and access to car parks.
Ready for action
While Finavia makes sure that the most demanding winter tasks are allocated to long-standing seasonal workers, Vuori acknowledges that each year brings at least some newcomers: “We start the training well ahead of time. In August and September, you can see this in Helsinki, with the snow ploughs going out in V-shape formations for staff to practice driving them. Of course, that helps them handle them in winter conditions.” He added that newcomers usually work alongside more experienced staff, for reasons of continuity, skills exchange and safety.
We emphasise teamwork, as clearing snow efficiently requires precise collaboration
For Finavia, the training requirements are the same whatever the size of the airport, although Vuori acknowledged that the winter operations situation is more straightforward at smaller facilities. With just a handful of landings a day, these airports have more time to spend on runway maintenance.
Vuori’s colleague Mikko Komi, currently a Finavia key account and business development manager, is the former manager of Vaasa Airport on Finland’s west coast. It is the country’s eighth busiest airport, serving 153,781 passengers in 2023, and its winter operations requirements differ to those of Helsinki. Komi told Airports International that many of the winter operations staff at Vaasa are also employed in other capacities, for example maintenance and security. When winter weather hits, dealing with it becomes the priority, regardless of their other roles. Komi is at pains to stress the responsibility taken by these staff members, however seasonal they may be.
The winter season in Pittsburgh typically begins in early December
Training is imperative, regardless of the length of the employment contract. In addition to drilling its staff throughout the year, and to hosting equipment manufacturers who provide training in the use of their equipment, Pittsburgh sends team members to conferences across the US. Among these is the International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, New York, which covers the latest information and training for equipment operations, and offers snow academies for every aspect of winter operation, according to Moorhead.
In Anchorage, winter operations span a large portion of the year, often extending from October through to April, so it is neither an isolated nor a short-term activity for the airport. The length of the winter seasons allows “continuous skill application and reinforcement”, according to Alex Moss. He told Airports International: “We emphasise regular training and hands-on practice, beginning with refresher courses before the season starts and continuing with periodic skill assessments throughout the winter. This approach ensures our team is proficient and familiar with all procedures and equipment, keeping their skills sharp during the extended season.
Ivalo, the local airport for Korvatunturi, the mountain said to be home to Santa Claus, needs to stay open even in heavy snow
“Additionally, our investment in annual training on best practices and any new equipment ensures our team remains adept and ready to handle Anchorage’s demanding winter conditions. Airport operations staff have mandatory annual and recurrent training. They are part of a winter operations working group comprised of operations, field maintenance, ground handlers, air traffic control and airlines.”
Gatwick’s ‘Polar Bears’ receive training on operating the vehicles and how to clear snow and ice from the airfield, in line with the airport’s adverse weather plan. COO Mark Johnston said: “We put a lot of planning in place for our winter operation, starting as soon as the previous winter ends. Our priority is always the safety of our passengers and staff, and to ensure they can travel through the airport as efficiently as possible.
“We rehearse our processes to make sure we get it right. While we can’t control the weather, it’s vital we have comprehensive plans in place to deal with inclement conditions as best as possible, to ensure the airport can remain operational and people can get away on their holidays – particularly over the festive period.”
Anchorage has long been a leader in air cargo, thanks to its proximity to Asia, so it must remain operational regardless of the weather
Digging deep
According to Moss, the training programme at Anchorage is comprehensive, covering three distinct areas: equipment operation, safety protocols, and airfield-specific procedures. He explained: “Equipment training covers the operation of high-capacity snowploughs, blowers and de-icers, ensuring staff are adept with each machine’s functions and quirks. Safety training is essential, given the hazardous conditions on the airfield during snow events. We also emphasise teamwork and co-ordination, as clearing snow efficiently requires precise collaboration among operators. Airport operations does not have winter operations-specific training, as winter operations are part of the overall task to remain compliant with federal regulations.”
We emphasise teamwork, as clearing snow efficiently requires precise collaboration
Anchorage faces some of the most extreme winter conditions in the US, which shapes the operator’s approach to winter operations. According to Moss, the airport’s location demands an approach that prioritises rapid snow removal and ice management: “We tailor our training to handle unique challenges, such as mixed precipitation events, which can create complex and rapidly changing conditions on the airfield. Our programme also incorporates protocols for co-ordinating with other departments, like air traffic control, to ensure safety and efficiency. Operations tasks are governed by the Airport Certification Manual, which is our airport-specific plan for compliance with 14 CFR Part 139. Additional resources include the Airport Operations Manual, Airport Emergency Plan and Airport Security Programme.”
A ‘Polar Bear’, one of Gatwick’s team of winter operations volunteers
Pittsburgh offers a mixture of classroom and hands-on training, Moorhead said: “This includes actual drills on the airfield with the equipment, and FAA-simulated training. Our learning management system offers online training.”
Moorhead explained that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires a snow and ice control plan that is specific to each airport, noting that “every airport is different.”
According to Finavia’s Vuori, all Finnish airports, apart from two commercial operations, are required by the Civil Aviation Authority to have staff undertake a training programme and pass a test at the end. He explained: ‘Anyone required to drive a machine on the runway must take the training and gain the qualifications to operate heavy machinery on the runway and between aircraft.”
Pittsburgh’s ability to keep a runway open in the most extreme weather has made it a preferred FAA location when East Coast airports have closed
Winter operations training is also strictly regulated in the United States. Moss said of Anchorage: “Several FAA and OSHA regulations influence our winter operations training. FAA regulations dictate specific protocols for maintaining safe runway conditions, while OSHA standards guide our safety training, particularly regarding equipment operation and exposure to harsh winter elements. We incorporate these standards into our training curriculum and conduct regular audits to ensure compliance. Additionally, the airport has its own stringent requirements for airfield safety and operations that shape our training content.”
Pittsburgh abides by the FAA’s regulations, but takes it one step further, according to Moorhead: “We go beyond the norm by having each individual train for 20-30 hours.”
The airport also holds an annual Winter Operations Drill, the latest of which took place in October 2024 and involved the airport’s field maintenance department, its mechanics and the airport operations team. Pittsburgh credits these drills and the airport’s attention to detail to its ability to keep at least one runway operational all season round for almost 30 straight years, making it a preferred FAA location to send flights when East Coast airports are snowed in.
Many of Finavia’s winter operations staff come from professions dependent on good weather, such as road construction or farming
Pittsburgh’s 2024 Winter Operations Drill reviewed the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s Snow and Ice Control Plan and included a simulated winter storm using multiple pieces of equipment – brooms, snowploughs, blowers, de-icers and sand trucks – on the airfield.
“We take great pride in keeping the airport open and safe in all types of weather, improving airline on-time rates and enhancing customer service,” said Moorhead. “It’s a matter of personal pride in what we accomplish each winter and how our industry peers view us.”
Updates for operators
Buying new winter operations equipment may lead to additional training for staff. Anchorage’s Moss explained: “When we acquire new equipment, we arrange for hands-on training sessions led by the equipment manufacturers. These sessions cover the machine’s operational specifics, maintenance requirements and safety features. For more complex machinery, we sometimes have vendor representatives come on-site to conduct in-depth training with our team. We also include refresher courses on this new equipment in our annual winter training sessions to ensure that every team member is proficient and ready to use the equipment effectively during operations.”
Pittsburgh’s snow fighters are considered the best of the best
At Pittsburgh, Moorhead said: “The vendor will spend a week training on the machine’s operation, work with our mechanics on preventive measures and possible repairs on consumables, and provide a critical components list of items that need to be stocked.”
‘Fail to prepare – prepare to fail’ may be an overused phrase, but it’s clear that when it comes to airport winter operations, it is true. And it’s worth noting that failure to prepare for treacherous weather conditions at airports could, at best, have huge economic implications and, at worst, lead to injuries and even fatalities. Having the best staff fully trained and ready for action really is crucial.
Alaska faces some of the most extreme winter conditions in the United States
