Airside Snow Removal Practices for Small Airports with Limited Budgets (2015)

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AIRSIDE SNOW REMOVAL PRACTICES FOR SMALL AIRPORTS WITH LIMITED BUDGETS The objective of this synthesis was to gather information on the challenges faced by small airport operators, particularly those with budgetary and other constraints, in coordinating and conducting snow removal operations; and successful strategies they employ. Information in this report can be used by local and state policy makers, small airport managers, and users of small airports to better understand the needs of their local airports, to enhance snow removal efficiencies, and to help reduce liability exposure. The targeted airports for the study were small nonprimary and general aviation airports in the United States. Survey methodology, detailed in chapter one, produced a list of 175 potential interviewees. All 175 airports were sent a letter requesting their participation in the study. Fifty (50) airports self-selected to participate; 46 completed the survey, for a response rate of 92%. The airports are diversified across the northern tier of the United States and are classified into five groups identified for comparison pur- poses: basic, local, regional, reliever, and nonprimary commercial service, as defined by the FAA’s General Aviation Asset Report. The majority of airports involved in the survey were categorized as local; chapter seven discusses the unique challenges faced by rural airports in Alaska. In documenting the efforts of small airports to meet federal guidelines and user expectations during winter snow events, the information sought included: • the type and age of equipment airports commonly use; • how equipment is acquired; • the staffing levels and arrangements used; • the pressures snow removal operators experience; • operational strategies used; • safety issues taken into account; • employee training provided; • equipment needs and desires; and • lessons learned and helpful advice. The timely removal of snow from an airport surface can be an important safety and business matter for an airport. For instance, three airports in the survey stressed the importance of being available for medical life-flights. Several airports cited the need to clear the runways to accommodate local corporate and business aircraft that might locate elsewhere if not able to use the airport. The inability of an aircraft to use an airport can result in a loss of fuel sales, maintenance business, or other income generating or economic opportunities. There are reports in the literature of aircraft suffering an accident as a result of incomplete snow removal. The survey responses indicate that limited budgets severely hamper the ability of small airports to remove snow in a consistent and timely manner. However, the survey interviews and responses indicate that all of them strive to do the most efficient job possible with the limited resources available. Most of the airport operators responding to the survey had sole responsibility for their own snow removal, while a few had a municipality’s public works department, fixed-base operator, or private contractor perform snow removal. SUMMARY

2 The prime challenges within the different categories of airports are related to the organizational structure of small airports, the budget constraints, the lack of equipment and adequate personnel, the expense associated with snow removal operations, and the difficulty in forecasting the number or severity of future winter events. In many cases, the equipment used at the surveyed airports is old and limited in functionality. It is primarily at the reliever and nonprimary commercial service levels, where activity and funding levels are much higher and where the user impact may have greater consequence within the community, that snow removal activities at the airport receive the greatest organizational support. It is those same airports that tend to be more financially sound and have greater opportunity to obtain grant-funded equipment, thereby relieving the local governments of those expenses. Airports use a variety of funding mechanisms to acquire snow removal equipment. Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding is the primary method. However, limitations exist on the quantity of equipment that can be acquired via AIP, and other funding methods will be necessary, such as acquiring surplus property. Additional funding is available from federal, state, or local govern- mental fleet purchases and state-to-state reciprocity agreements. The airport managers indicated in their responses that fuel and personnel were the two main vari- able expense items associated with snow removal activities. The managers’ responses all reflected the importance of having their airport available for public use because they understood its impor- tance to the community and the users of the airport. The challenges they face, though numerous, can be addressed with lessons learned and advice from seasoned operators.