b'WINTER OPERATIONSMCI 19powertrain, which uses a diesel engine that powers an electricbackward, windrow left or right and also has the option tomotor to maintain efficiency with a constant engine RPM. Thisoperate a wing to maneuver around obstacles to clear snowprovides for much lower fuel consumption, lower noise levelswith fewer passes.and peak performance at all times, Bayless explains, noting thatThe blades feature the companys patented Rubber Live the E-Drive powertrain influenced MCI to choose John DeereEdge Technology, which adapts to uneven ground and protects equipment. The 844L, tailored for snow removal, features specialinfrastructure such as inset lighting. The Metal Pless MaxxPro snow tires with small tread blocks and siping. Additionally, it44-foot blade is specifically designed to clear snow from gates, is equipped with front and rear differential locks that engageaprons, taxiways, deicing areas and other areas crucial to automatically when wheel slip is detected, to deliver equal tractionmaintaining operations during winter storms. and power to all four wheels.According to Whittemore, the plow blades will easily last With different sizes of loaders at its disposal, MCI can strategicallyMCI upwards of 10 years. We have been building blades since deploy specific units during winter storms. The 244L is preferred in tight terminal areas because its compact and has a hydraulically adjustable snow blade that can adjust to a straight, box or angled position. The mid-size 644 X-Tier can load piled snow into the melters with a snow pusher or 4-cubic-yard bucket. The 844L, with a 40-foot-wide snow blade, serves a similar role but on a larger scale. The 844Ls primary task will be to bulk load large amounts of snow away from the ramp and taxiway and pile it to be melted, Bayless says. These will be the workhorses of the snow events by moving massive amounts of snow in each pass.To prepare MCI crews to operate the new equipment, the Aviation Department arranged three training sessions over 18 months. With each training session, personnel from the local Murphy Tractor branch built on information and skills learned from previous sessions to the point that each operator was confident and competent on the machines features and capabilities, Bayless remarks. One feature of the 644 and 844 that aided training is the ability to set the controls so that every time a machine is started, it defaults back to ideal parameters set by application specialists. This way, crews know that the machine will operate the same way each time it is started.Bigger, Better BladesMetal Pless blades for the new John Deere loaders feature a 24-foot center mouldboard with 10-foot wings on each side, which help operators clear large areas faster. They are the largest hydraulic-powered wing plows in the world, reports Jason Whittemore, executiveJASON WHITTEMOREvice president of Metal Pless. The hydraulic wings allow operators to change the positioning of the plow. It is capable of scooping snow forward or AirportImprovement.comMarch | April 2024'