Crews known as the “Snow Fighters” conducted winter readiness training along the runway at Pittsburgh International Airport during an October exercise Wednesday.
The equipment operators tested specialized plows and brooms to ensure operational readiness for the upcoming winter season.
The airport typically experiences approximately 40 inches of snowfall between November and March. Last winter, the facility recorded more than 50 inches of snow, which included major operational challenges caused by Winter Storm Fern in January.
Crews operated heavy equipment along the runway, including machines fitted with 20-foot plows and 18-foot brooms.
James Moorhead, vice president of airport operations at Pittsburgh International Airport, explained the purpose of the October exercise.
“We want to kick the rust off the machines and make sure everything is working, getting ready for this winter,” Moorhead said.
Instead of applying salt to the runways, crews utilize specialized machinery designed to clear as much as 10,000 tons of snow every hour. That removal rate is equivalent to clearing the volume of snow on 400 fully loaded school buses each hour.
“They’re large apparatus, and they can move pretty quick and agile. On the airfield, safety is paramount to anything we do. Our main goal besides safety is keeping that airfield open at all times,” Moorhead said.
The airport has maintained operations even during severe weather conditions that shut down surrounding roadways.
“We kept three out of four runways open. We had no issues whatsoever. Even though the state roads closed and the governor didn’t want vehicles on the roads, everything on the airfield kept going,” Moorhead said.
Weather conditions have also brought an influx of unscheduled aircraft to the facility. Upward of 400 flights have diverted to Pittsburgh to date this year, positioning the airport to establish a record for diverted flight volume.
Moorhead, who has worked at the airport for 31 years, noted the facility’s long-term operational record.
“Here at PIT, I’ve been here 31 years. I can’t remember if we’ve ever closed. If we have, it’s only been once. This team is very proud of what they do. Making sure the runway is safe,” Moorhead said.
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