Latest news with #InternationalAviationSnowSymposium
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Denver International Airport wins national award for snow, ice removal operations
DENVER (KDVR) — If you ever look outside of a plane window before takeoff, you will likely have noticed how busy the tarmac can be. Vehicles headed in every direction, people with different vests holding various items and planes landing and taking off. All of those people hold the same job titles as other airport workers across the world, but working at Los Angeles International Airport is far different than working at Denver International Airport. MSU housing program sees students live with 55 or older 'home-sharers' One thing the employees at DIA have to deal with is the harsh snow and ice that develops in Colorado. When the ice and snow begin to interfere with flights, the crews must work quickly and efficiently to ensure a fast turnaround and safe takeoffs and landings. The crews at DIA were so good at dealing with the frigid, icy and snowy situations that the airport won the Balchen/Post Award for 2024. The award is given to the airport with the best snow and ice removal programs across the United States. DIA won the award in the category for large commercial airports, which is the fourth time in history that the airport has been named the recipient. 'We're extremely proud of our snow teams for upholding the highest standards during challenging winter conditions and keeping one of the busiest airports in North America operating safely,' Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington said in a press release. 'As we continue to maintain our facility to the highest standards and prepare for 100 million passengers, our snow team maintains its reputation as one of the most efficient snow operations in the nation.' The Balchan/Post Award has been presented by the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives at the International Aviation Snow Symposium and honors the work of airports in commercial flights, general aviation and military categories. The award is awarded for excellence in categories, including: In-depth preparedness Effectiveness of the snow and ice control program Timeliness and accuracy of communications during the program and post-storm activity DIA is the largest commercial airport by land mass in the United States, so the crews have a lot of ground to cover in a limited amount of time. The snow and ice program is responsible for handling six runways, 300 lane miles of roads, which is the distance from the airport to the Utah state border if the roads were placed in a straight line and 30 acres of parking lots, which hold about 40,000 parking spaces and cover the size of about 23 football fields. To deal with such a massive task, the airport deploys nearly 500 trained snow removal personnel, 209 pieces of airside snow removal equipment and 48 pieces of landslide snow removal equipment. 88 Drive-In Theatre opens for the season this Friday It took those teams an average of 17 minutes to fully clear a runway. In 2024, a total of 47.7 inches of snow had to be dealt with. During its 30 years of operation, the airfield has only had to close six times because of snowy weather conditions, according to DIA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Drivers compete for 'Best in Snow' at Annual Snowplow Rodeo
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — There might not be snow on the ground, but that isn't stopping plows from hitting the pavement on Wednesday at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The annual Snowplow Rodeo marks the final day of the International Aviation Snow Symposium, bringing drivers from around the world to compete for the title of 'Best in Snow'. The rodeo is more than just a contest, it's a way for snowplow operators to showcase precision, training and safety, giving them a chance to demonstrate the skills they've developed during the weeklong symposium. 'We've got a three-time champion on our hand, and we want to make sure that he keeps that title,' said NFTA Public Information Officer Kelly Khatib. 'Even though it's a lot of fun, it's about safety. We are an award-winning airport when it comes to snow removal and that's something that we're extremely proud of.' The Buffalo-Niagara International Airport has been hosting the Snow Symposium for 50 years. Chris McBride, a landscape supervisor and 2024 snowplow rodeo champion, told WIVB News 4 that dedication is the most important part of the job. 'In the wintertime we basically live here,' McBride said. 'We are committed to being here, and I mean that's the job. That's the main reason we are here is to make sure the place stay open for the traveling public, and your families can fly in and fly out safely.' Drivers go through an obstacle course with various plow backstops during the rodeo. Running over a cone counts as a penalty. Speed and time play a significant part in determining the winner. McBride's strategy for winning? 'Just try my best and hope that I'm the fastest,' he said. 'Get through fast and no penalties.' The rodeo serves as a celebratory end to the snow season, with plow operators from across the country heading home with new skills, sharper instincts and for one driver, the championship belt. Gwyn Napier is a reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of her work by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Syracuse Regional Airport Authority wins award for snow and ice control efforts
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority — the operator of Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) — has won an award for its snow and ice control efforts. The SRAA has won the Balchen/Post Award for Outstanding Achievement in Airport Snow and Ice Control for the Small Commercial Airport category. The 2024-2025 award was presented to the members of the SRAA team at the International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, New York, on Monday, April 28. The purpose of the award is to promote better snow and ice control within the industry and recognize airports for outstanding performance. The SYR airfield was only closed for less than three hours the entire season — despite the 115.4 inches of total season snowfall. 'I couldn't be prouder of our Airfield Maintenance and Airport Operations teams for their snow and ice control efforts here at SYR, and it's wonderful to see them recognized at the international level,' said Aaron Harris, the SRAA chief operations officer. 'They have proven they are the best of the best.' To be considered for this award, an airport must display excellence in the following areas: Degree of in-depth preparedness, including a comprehensive snow and ice controlplan, equipment readiness, personnel training, and overall safety awareness. Effectiveness of snow and ice control program, examining how well the program keptaeronautical areas safe and operational, such as runways, taxiways, aprons, ramps,runway/taxiway lighting, and signs. Timeliness and accuracy of communications during the snow and ice control effortwith the airlines, general aviation community, public, FAA, and other airport users. You can learn more here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
