FAI TWR CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING THE WHITE ARPT VEHICLES AND THE SNOW CONDITIONS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED.

Date: 2008-03

Anomalies: other-arpt-vehicle-marking

Synopsis

FAI TWR CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING THE WHITE ARPT VEHICLES AND THE SNOW CONDITIONS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED.

Narrative

AN ALL WHITE ARPT VEHICLE REQUESTED TO WORK ON THE SKI STRIP. THE SKI STRIP SURFACE IS COMPACTED SNOW; AS ARE THE ADJOINING TXWYS. THE INFIELDS ARE ALSO COVERED WITH SNOW THIS TIME OF YR. WITH BINOCULARS; THE VEHICLE WAS BARELY VISIBLE ON THE SURFACE IN DAYLIGHT VFR CONDITIONS. EVEN ON THE PAVED AND PLOWED RWYS THE WHITE VEHICLES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE BECAUSE THEY BLEND IN WITH THE SNOW PILES IN THE INFIELDS. VEHICLES OF THIS COLOR OPERATE ON THE ARPT DAILY. ADVISORY CIRCULAR #150/5210-20 SAYS THIS ON THE TOPIC: 'VEHICLES THAT ROUTINELY OPERATE ON THE AIRSIDE SHOULD BE MARKED/FLAGGED FOR HIGH DAYTIME VISIBILITY AND; IF APPROPRIATE; LIGHTED FOR NIGHTTIME OPS. VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH MARKING AND LIGHTING DEVICES SHOULD ESCORT VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT MARKED AND LIGHTED. (SEE ADVISORY CIRCULAR 150/5210-5.) VEHICLES NEEDING INTERMITTENT IDENT SHOULD BE MARKED WITH MAGNETICALLY ATTACHED MARKERS; WHICH ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE.' I SUBMIT THAT WHITE IS NOT A SUFFICIENTLY VISIBLE MARKING FOR VEHICLE OPS AT THIS ARPT WHERE WE HAVE SNOW ON THE SURFACES FOR MANY MONTHS OF THE YR.

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