weather impacts to columbia metropolitan airport operations doug anderson – ops 12...

Weather Impacts to Columbia Metropolitan

Airport Operations

Doug Anderson – “Ops 12” d.anderson@columbiaairport.com

Topics

• Department Overview

• The Airport System

• Severe Weather Processes

• Operational Impacts

• Recent FAA Changes to Airport Winter Ops

IntroducingCAE’s Operations

Department•12 people with diverse educational/aviation backgrounds

• Airline Ops, Pilots, Movement Controllers, Safety, Law Enforcement, Security, Military Airfield Ops, Meteorology

•Diversity aids “big picture” decision-making•Emergency, routine and non-routine airport events•2600+ acre facility … we make it happen!

•Established as a separate department in 1995• 2 Coordinators on duty at all times• (803) 822-5050, airportops@columbiaairport.com

Airport Operations Center

Areas of Responsibility

• Airfield Certification, Inspections, NOTAMs• FAR Part 77 & 139 Compliance/Certification• Emergency and Routine Dispatch• Tenant Severe/Winter Weather Notification• Airport Facility Inspections• Airfield Driver Training and Orientation• Maintenance Work Order Submittal• And….anything else to keep CAE running!

Airport System

• Landside Component (ground movement)• Passengers, cargo to/from from the air interface

• Roads, parking, pax/cargo unloading ramps• GA (FBOs), fuel farms, pax/cargo terminals (the “bridge”)

• Airside Component (air movement)• Air interface - aircraft around airport, to/from the air

• Airfield - runways, taxiways, aprons, approach systems, lighting, etc.

• Airspace – just as important as any ground-based asset

Airport System

• Weather…especially unplanned creates DELAYS

• Can lead to poor operational decisions, affects:• Capacity…ability to handle traffic volume over time• Safety (concern #1)• Costs up...revenues (concern #2) down

• We are a heavily-dependent “weather intel” user• Good intel aids decision processes

Severe Weather Processes•Receipt of NWSFO Columbia Watch/Warning

•Also receive crash phone calls from tower….tornado!

•Disseminate to airport agencies/tenants•Radio, telephone:

•Fixed Base Operators (General Aviation and Fueling)•Airlines•Cargo Carriers•Airline Maintenance•Contractors (airport construction)•Key CAE Staff, Police and ARFF

Severe Weather Processes

•Increase METWATCH, Airfield/Facility Inspections•Winter weather…pavement condition, friction surveys•Implement Snow/Ice Control Plan (more later)

•Anticipate and implement emergency plans

•Protect people…shelter areas…evacuations•Increase airfield, facility inspection frequency•Issue NOTAMs•Coordinate, aid in accomplishing recovery/repair efforts

Weather Impacts

•Low Ceilings and Visibilities• Maintenance coordination – generators for Cat II/III ILS• Airfield lighting, NAVAIDs, approach lighting• Other airports….divert flow & parking, ramp space• Vehicular traffic flow, public safety• Passenger overflow/security and public safety issues

•Precipitation•Airside

• Ponding, taxiway and runway friction/safety• Airfield marking/lighting

•Landside• Vehicle/pedestrian traffic safety• Physical plant impacts

Weather Impacts

• High winds• Runway selection/crosswinds

• Airside flow impeded

• Airfield fixtures…lighting, signage• Power issues• Road blockages

• Landside flow impeded

• Ramp safety…projectiles/maintenance• Passenger/employee comfort/injuries (response)

• Thunderstorms• All of the above, plus

• Fueling and airfield lightning safety

July 18, 2007

Lightning Damage!

High Winds

Erosion

Drainage/Runoff

Drainage/Runoff

Ponding…attractant to wildlife

Old Man Winter

Climatology data helps CAE plan each season…chemical, equipment and personnel

Winter Weather Operations

•New to CAE…NAC Dynamic Friction Tester

ImpactsEarly notice helps us swing into gear!

Implement Snow and Ice Control PlanRecall Personnel, Position EquipmentBegin Anti-Ice Agent ApplicationContinuous Monitoring…Continuous ActionRunway/Taxiway/Ramp Condition SurveysTimely and Accurate Notices to Airmen

Winter Weather Operations

•Pavement Area Condition•Braking Action•Directional Control •Runway Incursion Potential•Roads, Parking Areas and Traffic Safety

•Plowing Operations…Safety Issues•Obscured lighting/signage/NAVAIDs•Damaged lighting/signage•Windrowed/drifted snow…obstruction hazards

CAE Snow Removal Priorities

FAA Winter Ops Guidance•FAA Advisory Circular 150/520-30C (12/9/08)•Weather Support to Deicing Decision Making (WSDDM) systems, surface condition sensors & other technology•Changes this winter:

•No known correlation between “Mu” and braking action•‘MEDIUM’ braking action term no longer used

•ICAO term ‘FAIR’ now used instead

• 2 consecutive ‘POOR’ braking action PIREPs•Must conduct runway condition assessments•Continuous monitoring, timely & accurate NOTAMs required

•Any PIREP of ‘NIL’ closes the runway

The Bottom Line…

•We appreciate your efforts!•Airport system interfaces landside to airside•Weather impacts the entire airport system•It’s not just ceilings and visibility!•Your support key to a safe facility enabling safe aircraft operations and landside passenger flow

•How can we support you?

Questions?

Thanks for your time!