MILWAUKEE — With winter on its way, the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is preparing its operations to clear the runway for future snow events.
Before the snow falls every year, Shaughn Flemmer hops into a snowplow to practice with the rest of the maintenance crew.
“We will stagger all of the vehicles in a ‘V’ pattern so we get as much of the snow removed off the airfield in one pass,” said Flemmer, an airport maintenance worker.
He said during snow events, they will only target certain areas, as the runways are two miles long.
“Depending on the wind direction determines which air strip they are going to use, so we have to make sure that one stays open at all times, and there is a main taxiway, and that’s the main one they are going to use to get to the terminal ramp,” said Flemmer. “So those are the ones we have to keep clear at all times.”
Donald Spitzer runs the snowplow operation.
He said minor snow falls may not be a big deal for Wisconsinites, but it’s something airports have to account for.
“A half inch of snow to us is significant,” said Spitzer. “It’s the breaking action for the airplanes, the de-icing that has to be involved. All the coordination, the timing to make sure the airplanes are getting de-iced at the gate, they get to the runway. We gotta make sure that runway is open at that time.”
Spitzer explained they also use flyers, which are big snowblowers, and chemical trucks to prevent snow from piling up on the ground.
“We always try to keep it open because I mean, if someone has to divert, that gets into a big cost factor for the airlines, so you will always want to make sure the runways are clean and environmentally safe,” said Spitzer.
And even though Flemmer has only been doing it for a year and a half, he said it’s a job he takes great pride in.
“You know that you are keeping airlines going so passengers aren’t stuck here during a snowy time, and then that way, they can get safely where they have to go,” said Flemmer.