The winter maintenance fleet has seen the addition of a new Schmidt Supra 5002 self-propelled snow-cutter blower, which has a staggering capacity for moving large volumes of snow quickly and efficiently. At operating speeds of up to 40 kph, it can clear 5,000 tonnes of snow per hour and can throw it for distances of up to 40 metres, making it ideal for tackling snow banks left by snowploughs completing their runway clearance duties. Explaining the rationale for selecting such a powerful piece of snow clearing equipment, Liam Bolger, Head of Airside, who has total responsibility for all airside operations at LLA, said: “As well as being our insurance against large volume winter snowfalls, the Supra snow-cutter blower is perfect for moving snow dumps which can build up after runway, taxiway and apron clearing and take away valuable and, in our case at London Luton Airport, limited aircraft parking space. The Supra can tackle these snow dumps, which are expensive to move, very effectively, and blow them into the grass for distances of up to 40 metres, freeing up parking space very quickly and effectively. That is a big plus for us. The other major bonus is the Supra’s operating speed of 40 kph which means it can slot in easily with our other equipment so that all equipment operates at the same, rather than differing, speeds.” Bolger said that LLA had gone out to the market in its search for the ideal snow blower. “We did our usual amount of research into available machines on the market but Schmidt comprehensively won the competitive tender,” he said.
The other addition to the LLA fleet is an Aebi Terratrac 281+ slope tractor, which will play a role on both summer and winter maintenance fleets. In summer, the highly versatile Terratrac will be deployed on grass mowing duties on the many steep slopes that exist around London Luton airport. In winter, thanks to a 3m front mounted Schmidt Tarron Compact MS 30 snowplough and a 350-litre rear mounted Nido CSP De-icer, it will serve as back-up to the winter fleet. “Due to ongoing construction work, and the fact that we are on a hill, we have a lot of steep slopes at LLA, which for health and safety reasons need specialised equipment to tackle. The Terratrac has been developed on Alpine pastures with an excellent centre of gravity and is ideal in this role,” said Liam Bolger. “In winter we will use it to clear away and de-ice passenger walkways in support of our main winter fleet, as we can adapt it very easily for de-icing and snow clearing due to its front and rear three point linkage points,” he said.
LLA announced recently that is had been able to reduce its optimum runaway clearance and de-icing time to less than 12 minutes having upgraded its winter maintenance fleet with additional Schmidt equipment. The latest additions included five Schmidt Towed Jet Sweepers (TJS) 560’s equipped with 5.6m MS Airport snowploughs, and several JCB Fastracs. These joined two 10,500-litre 24-metre ASP De-Icers to ensure maximum clearing and de-icing efficiency. LLA also operates a Schmidt AS 990 high performance runway sweeper and a Schmidt Street King 660 to sweep airside areas, terminal frontage and other landside areas to help improve the appearance and image of the airport from a user perspective.
“The Supra and Terratrac are the missing pieces to the puzzle and complete what we feel is a very effective and efficient summer and winter maintenance fleet,” added Liam Bolger.