b'16 MCI WINTER OPERATIONSTerminal Expansion at Kansas City Intl Prompts New Snow Removal Strategyand Equipment BY KRISTEN RINDFLEISCHKansas City International AirportNew removal equipment and updated (MCI) recently underwent acommunications strategies are other key transformative expansion, not onlychanges. reshaping its terminal but also nearly triplingTo measure its effectiveness during winter the size of its apron. In true domino fashion,weather events, the Aviation Department those improvements created the need for adeveloped a key performance indicator whole new approach to snow removal.for snow removal operations based on Previously, the apron spanned about 2.5FAA Advisory Circular million square feet. Now, it serves as the150/5200-30B for designated aircraft deicing area, and snowrunway clearance removal crews have an additional 3.5 milliontimes. For our level FACTS&FIGURESsquare feet of new apron to clear as well.of operations, we Kansas City Aviation Department, whichshould be able to Project: Updated Snow Removal Strategies clear our Priority 1 & Equipment owns and operates MCI, reallocatedareas in approximatelyLUKE MAWHIRTERLocation: Kansas City (MO) Intl Airport personnel to accommodate the new terminal and ramp30 minutes, shares Cost: $6.4 million configuration. We hadOperations Manager Luke Mawhirter. Thats Funding Sources: Bonds; airport revenue to change our strategya goal that were shooting for.Motivation for Changes: New terminal & aprona bit with how we break configuration up the snow crews,Finding the Right Equipment Key Components: New snow melters, loaders, says Deputy OperationsThe new terminal layout and additional apron skid steers, snow blades Manager Jacob Spain.pavement left less open areas to pile snow, Snow Melters: Trecan Combustion We had to increasewhich meant MCI had to determine what to JACOB SPAIN do with snow after crews removed it. Loaders & Skid Steers: John Deere our numbers of folks Supplier & Supporting Dealer: Murphy Tractor that can clear snow on the apron spaces asThe only options that we had really were Snow Blades: Metal Plessopposed to the runways.melting it or loading it up in trucks and As 2024 got underway, the airport washauling it off and dumping it somewhere Dealer: American Equipment else, Mawhirter explains. And hauling it Drain Tiles: EJ running two crews for ramps and one for runways/taxiways. The Operations teamaway is not efficient. Thats not the best use Key Benefits: Improved snow removal strategy;plans to continue adjusting its resourceof resources. So snow melters were really increased efficiency; versatile, operator-friendly newallocation as additional snow events occur.our only feasible option. equipmentMarch | April 2024AirportImprovement.com'