Winter operations: Best practices at Montréal-Trudeau Airport

Abstract

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Montréal-Trudeau), Canada's third-busiest airport, receives 220cm of snow a year on average, which is more than any other major airport in North America. Yet, in over 70 years of operation, the airport has never had to suspend operations for more than a few hours because of snow. This is made possible by employing state-of-the-art equipment and the application of a number of best practices that have made Montréal-Trudeau's winter operations a model for snowbound airports around the world. This paper describes how the airport's snow-removal operations are carried out with remarkable precision, employing advanced technology tools, a modern fleet of snow-removal equipment and highly specific procedures to get the job done. It also emphasises the importance of proper equipment maintenance and calibration and the need to leverage the latest technologies to optimise the safety and efficiency of snow-removal operations. Finally, it offers a few words of recommendation for airports facing ice and snow challenges.