Aviation Ground Crew Winter Safety
Posted by Aero Specialties on February 22nd, 2019
Being a member of an airside support crew can be harrowing at the best of times. Millions of dollars, the comfort and convenience of thousands of passengers, and, in many cases, the safety and lives of those passengers are in the hands of the ground crews. On top of which, aircraft tugs and pushbacks, baggage and lav carts, and a fleet of other ground support equipment (GSE), are zipping around on the apron. Not to mention that massive aircraft being tugged, pushed-back, or taxiing have to be dodged.
And that’s the work environment when the weather is nice, warm, and clear. When winter and the snow hit, every one of those challenges remains, on top of which the crews have to deal with accumulating snow, iced-up wings, ice on the ground, blinding wind, icy fog, storms inhibiting visibility, and often, bitter cold. Particularly frustrating is that the conditions being that much more difficult results in an increased chance of delays, which can place even more pressure on the ground crews to perform their duties as quickly as possible without sacrificing thoroughness. So what are the best ways for ground crews to do the work efficiently and effectively, while also remaining safe?
Snow Buildup
According to the FAA, once 1/8 of an inch of wet snow or slush accumulates on the runway, it’s officially a “contaminant.”And that’s the same designation for an inch or less of dry snow and any depth of compacted snow. The designation is as stringent as it is for a good reason. Ground crews are no doubt aware that takeoff and landing are by far the two most pivotal parts of a flight. Snow can both fall and compact extremely quickly, particularly with even moderate traffic. It doesn’t take much snow to result in aircraft slides that, due to the speeds and momentum of aircraft taking off or landing, can prove catastrophic.
As such, removal of snow from runways has to be a top priority. But rushing the snow removal, whether by plowing, salting, or spraying deicing fluid, can prove dangerous as well. An aircraft tug or snowplow, while not dealing with the size or momentum of an aircraft, is still a large vehicle being driven around a lot of other large vehicles and human beings. So ensure that—consistently, but particularly in inclement weather—communication with managers, the tower, and other crews is a top priority.
The Dangers of Ice
The risk of GSE sliding on frozen precipitation has been touched on, but more dangerous than snow is the threat of black ice. Black ice can form extremely quickly, both under snow and on tarmac that otherwise looks clear. And anyone who’s ever hit a patch of it is aware that you don’t need to be going fast to find yourself in a dangerous slide. Accompanied by its own set of challenges and dangers is the deicing of both the runways and the aircraft.
While the necessity to fully deice an aircraft has been forever branded into the mind of every deicer, there are other concerns that can get less attention. The necessity for communication is one of those. Failures in communication while deicing have led to serious injuries and accidents. Deicing fluid seeping into the cabin of the aircraft being sprayed and partially-received messages resulting in pilots swinging into deicing vehicles are just a couple of the unfortunate products of failures to communicate. The bottom line is, be safe, be aware, be communicative, and use quality deicing and snow removal equipment, and you should be just fine.
AERO Specialties offers a wide variety of deicing products, including deice trucks, fluids, and portable deicing units. When used properly, these products will greatly enhance your safety on the ramp.
About AERO Specialties
AERO Specialties has established an international reputation as one of the most innovative thought leaders in the industry. They are committed to producing and providing the best-quality GSE on the market, by consistently remaining on the cutting edge of airside technological advancement. That dedication to superior GSE is also shared by AERO Specialties’ team members. They insist that everyone on the staff—from sales to support—are given detailed, in-depth training on GSE including the duties of airside ground crews and their equipment. From an aircraft pushback to deicing products, AERO Specialties has what you need to keep your aviation business flying high.
Find out how your aviation business can really take off with AERO Specialties’ GSE equipment, at Aerospecialties.com
