A FLT INSTRUCTOR COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SNOW REMOVAL POLICY AT SCH. ARPT MAINT POLICY SNOW REMOVAL; THERE IS NO PLOWING TO BE DONE WITH SNOW LESS THAN 3 INCHES DEEP. ARPT PROB SNOW REMOVAL.

Date: 1997-03

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

A FLT INSTRUCTOR COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SNOW REMOVAL POLICY AT SCH. ARPT MAINT POLICY SNOW REMOVAL; THERE IS NO PLOWING TO BE DONE WITH SNOW LESS THAN 3 INCHES DEEP. ARPT PROB SNOW REMOVAL.

Narrative

ARPT MGMNT REFUSES TO PLOW THE RWY FOR LESS THAN 3 INCHES OF SNOW. THE WX WAS GOOD AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAINING ACTIVITY. AFTER A TRAINING FLT WITH A STUDENT; I NOTICED A BUILD-UP OF ICE ON THE TAIL SURFACES THAT HAD BEEN BLOWN THERE BY THE PROP BLAST DURING TAXI AND TKOF. TEMPS WERE BELOW FREEZING AND THE ICE HAD NOT MELTED INFLT. HAD THE ICE BEEN ANY WORSE; A VERY DANGEROUS SIT COULD HAVE DEVELOPED. I BELIEVE ARPT MGMNT'S DECISION NOT TO PLOW THE TXWYS AND RWYS WHEN THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FLYING OCCURRING CONTRIBUTED TO A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SIT FOR MANY PEOPLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: SCH HAS A NON FEDERAL CTL TWR MANNED BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES. IT HAS A LOT OF TRAINING ACTIVITY; BOTH BASED LOCALLY AND AS A POPULAR DEST FOR XCOUNTRY STUDENTS. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE ARPT MGR; ANOTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEE; NOT TO PLOW THE RWYS AND TXWYS IF THE SNOW IS LESS THAN 3 INCHES DEEP OR IF THERE IS ANOTHER STORM ON THE WAY. THE RPTR DOES NOT KNOW IF THIS A BUDGETARY PROB OR IF THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. THERE IS NO ACR TFC THROUGH SCH. THE RPTR HAS CONVINCED HIS FLT SCHOOL TO SUSPEND OPS WHEN THERE IS SNOW ON THE GND. THE RPTR IS A FRIEND OF THE ASRS; HAVING GIVEN TALKS ON THE SYS AT SEVERAL SAFETY SEMINARS.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.