It may seem strange to think about snowplows and icy runways when it’s 85 degrees outside, but summer is actually the ideal time to prepare for winter at Rochester International Airport (RST).
Earlier this summer, Operations Leads Rod Danielson and Matthew Peck, along with Operations Specialist Zachary Effertz, attended the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Winter Operations Management Conference to sharpen their skills before Minnesota’s next winter arrives.
“It was the first time the three of us have gone to something like this all together,” Zachary said. “It was great to shore up some of our knowledge of snow removal techniques and practices, and to learn more about the various environmental factors that come into play.”
The conference brings together airport professionals from across North America to share best practices for winter operations, including weather forecasting, runway treatment, snow removal equipment and safety procedures.
Learning from airports big and small
Zach’s favorite sessions focused on weather and the environmental factors that influence runway conditions. He said it gave him a better understanding of how quickly changing conditions—such as pavement temperatures cooling faster than expected—can affect snow and ice removal decisions.
The team also attended sessions on runway chemicals and snow removal equipment and had the opportunity to speak directly with manufacturers about the products RST uses during the winter.
Different airports, same mission
One of the biggest surprises was seeing how airports from across the country approach winter weather.
Some attendees came from southern airports that only experience one or two snow events each year, while others represented airports in heavy snow regions like Buffalo, New York.
“It was interesting hearing everyone’s perspectives,” Zach said. “The principles are the same everywhere. The biggest differences are the scale of the operations and how prepared each airport has to be.”
A reputation for doing it right
While the conference provided plenty of new ideas, it also reinforced that RST’s winter operations are already well respected.
“We get compliments from pilots on our efficiency pretty regularly,” Zach said. “Last winter we had a couple of medical flights come in during the middle of the night, and one of the crews told us it was the cleanest runway they’d seen in Minnesota.”
That reputation doesn’t happen by accident.
Between conferences, hands-on training and continuous learning, RST’s Operations team spends the warmer months preparing for the season travelers notice most. Because when winter arrives, the work behind safe runways has already been underway for months.
