Columbia Regional Airport works to clear tarmac as winter storm affects flights nationwide
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A winter storm like the one that hit Mid-Missouri Saturday through Monday can leave plows with a sizable amount of snow to clear.
Clearing the tarmac at the Columbia Regional Airport is a bigger task than clearing roadways. Runway 02/20 is 7,400-by-150 feet and Runway 13/31 is 5,500-by-100 feet.
Airport Manager Mike Parks said icy pavement makes removal more challenging.
“Snow is much easier to remove than ice," Parks said. "So this storm was a whole lot more challenging than what we've seen in the past.”
COU has six maintenance people on staff that manage all snow removal. During big storms like this past weekend's, they are supplemented with airport public safety staff.
Parks said runways are not like roadways. When runways are covered in a wintry mix, they close.
“Having ice on the runway is an immediate closure,” Parks said. "And so until we remove that ice, we cannot reopen a runway."
Staff works around the clock to keep a clear runway. Parks said they have been working alternating shifts - 12 hours on, 12 hours off to have constant coverage.
“We’re not able just to stop as soon as the snow is pushed off," Parks said. "We actually continue.”
He anticipates crews will be continuing to clear through the night.
“I know several staff members agree this maybe has been one of the most challenging storms we've seen in a long, long time out here at the airport,” Parks said.
COU posted a memo to its website Monday at 7:30 a.m. about its efforts to clear the runway.
"Crews continue to remove snow and ice to ensure the airport is prepared for commercial and general aviation flights," the memo said. "Air travel continues to be impacted across the country due to winter storms."
COU flight statuses can be checked on the Arrivals & Departures page. The airport said flight information is updated every 15 minutes by the airlines.
Three arriving flights and four departing flights at COU were canceled Monday due to weather conditions.
"Each of the cancellations listed below were related to Winter Storm Blair," an American Airlines spokesperson in an email said in an email. "We plan to be back up and running at COU Airport tomorrow."
Canceled Arrivals:
American Airlines 3582 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
American Airlines 6271 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
American Airlines 3745 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Canceled Departures:
American Airlines 3744 to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
American Airlines 3341 to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
American Airlines 3582 to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
American Airlines 6264 to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Thousands of flights have been canceled nationwide.
