In winter it can snow and freeze and that can be troublesome because the runway and apron can freeze and become slippery. Also, the planes can freeze and that is not good for the mechanics inside. So snow, sleet and winter weather mean that a lot has to be done to make sure you can always fly even in winter temperatures. Severe winter weather? Our snow team gets into action.

Snow-shovelling

Snow on the apron and runway we don't want that so we move the snow to the side of the runway and apron. We do that with our Polar Bears. That is our team of employees that is managed by the Snowman. Who is responsible for all the snow and ice removal. To shovel snow and ice, we use large machines with brushes/shovels and air blowers. Of course, we not only shovel snow and ice from the runway and the apron we also clear the forecourt, boulevard and parking lots of snow because we don't want them to become slippery and cause accidents.

De-icing the planes

When it freezes heavily on the ground, the mechanics in aircraft wings can freeze. This, of course, is not the intention. That's why we de-ice the wings with a spray from a machine with a long arm. We spray the ice off and we spray a protective layer of antifreeze fluid on it that helps - even in the air - against persistent icing. This is called de-icing.

Winter weather causes a lot of extra work at the airport. But fortunately, our neighbors at Eindhoven Air Base are also helping to get the runway clean. And what do you notice about flying in winter weather? Preferably as little as possible. We do everything we can to ensure that you can land or fly off safely. That means it can sometimes take a bit longer, because it is more work than usual. But it has to be done for your own safety, so there are no planes that slip.