Millions of people jetted off from UK airports last Christmas – with more than 150,000 passengers choosing East Midlands Airport (EMA) for their getaways last December.

But much of the work to ensure its smooth running throughout winter is carried out behind-the-scenes and away from the view of passengers.

As temperatures start to dip, East Midlands Airport has readied itself to deal with wintry weather – with a clear plan of action and brand new equipment in place.

EMA began reviewing and testing its Winter Operations Plan back in the summer to make sure their teams involved in responding to a snow event is fully prepared when the time comes. 

The airport has invested £2.5m in a fleet of brand new state-of-the-art vehicles to support the smooth running of its operations during wintry weather. The fleet consists of six Schmidt snowploughs known as Compact Jet Sweepers which when working together can clear the runway in 24 minutes – an area of 130,000m2 of asphalt. Also joining the fleet is a snow-cutter blower which can move 5,000 tonnes of snow per hour.

The airport’s Operations Director Lauren Turner shared more with SITM about what goes into making sure the EMA keeps going through the winter.    

“We have the equivalent of 100 football pitches of tarmac on the airfield including the runway, taxiway and stands where planes park,” reveals Lauren.

“It’s a huge operation to keep this free from snow and ice, which is why we start planning as far in advance as August.

“Our Winter Operations Plan is tested with more than 80 staff from Airfield Operations, Firefighting and Air Traffic Control who are at the frontline of responding, as well as with many more members of staff across 14 teams, plus airlines and external contractors, who provide vital support when snow and ice affect operations.

“We ensure our fleet of snowploughs and other equipment are ready to go, and that we have enough anti-icing fluid stored and ready to use. Our ability to clear snow and ice from the airfield is vital for the safe running of the airport during the winter, so we’re pleased to have invested in a new fleet of vehicles which will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of this part of our operation.

“At an airport, it’s doubly important that we’re vigilant, quick to react to changes and proactive with all precautions.”

“When snow covers the markings and lights on the runway, it is deemed that operational safety is compromised. Our teams carry out inspections every day and their vehicles carry advanced technology that helps them fully assess the conditions.”

Airport teams constantly check a number of different monitoring systems to build up an accurate picture so they can be ready to take appropriate action in the event of a sudden cold snap.

“We use sophisticated weather forecasting systems to make sure we can prepare for whatever the climate throws at us – this includes being aware of the exact air pressure around the airport, the precise level of clouds and more,” said Lauren.

“In the winter this helps us not only to have a good idea of when snow is likely to fall – but also to know what the temperature of the tarmac on the airfield is going to be. The temperature of the ground on a cold night is actually cooler than that of the air – so even if the air temperature is above zero, the temperature of the tarmac of the airfield can be below zero meaning moisture can quickly turn to ice.”

The teams use grit and salt to clear ice from the road network, footpaths and car parks surrounding the airport but require different tactics when it comes to protecting the runway.

“On the airfield it’s a slightly different picture. Grit isn’t suitable on airfields as it can damage aircraft and is corrosive, Lauren revealed.

“We have 100,000 litres of anti-icing fluid stored and ready to treat the runway to help prevent it from freezing. The surface is also slightly grooved to provide better traction for aircraft when it is wet or icy.    

“We will proactively deploy the anti-icing treatment to prevent some snow from building up, but that can still happen in heavy snow. That’s when we rely on our fleet of snow clearing vehicles and workers trained to clear snow.

“Our new fleet of six Compact Jet Sweepers are equipped with a range of attachments including ploughs and brushes which can clear the 130,000m2 of the runway in 24 minutes, while the snow-cutter blower can move up to 5,000 tonnes of snow per hour.”  

Despite the teams’ efforts, the airport will sometimes still have to close to customers when it snows

Lauren said: “If we experience what we call ‘white top’ – when the runway’s centre lines and lights can no longer be seen – we close the airfield due to safety concerns. Doing this allows us to mobilise our full fleet of snow ploughs and clear the runways more quickly.”

Lauren was challenged on why airports in snowy countries continue to operate in much worse conditions than in this country.    

“There are lots of reasons,” she said.

“But a key one is that at temperatures around freezing point snow tends to be wetter because not all of it is frozen. This means it turns to slush and ice which is both more slippery and harder to clear. When the temperature is lower than -2c the snow is drier and more powdery and easier to clear or blow away.”

Customers can also play their part too when the airport is impacted by wintery weather.

Lauren said: “Our customers can also play a part by taking extra care when travelling to and around the airport, checking the status of flights with their airlines and keeping an eye on social media for updates.”