Winter at Munich Airport

When it snows, the winter service team must ensure that the runways in particular are free of snow and ice. This is because, unlike cars on snow-covered roads, aircraft cannot simply take off or land more slowly. In addition, the taxiways and apron areas must be constantly passable. Additional time must also be allowed for de-icing the aircraft before takeoff.

Stefan Häberlein, Head of Traffic Control at Munich Airport, explains: "On average, it takes us only 30 minutes to clear a four-kilometer runway, including the taxiways. And it takes an average of eleven minutes to completely de-ice an aircraft."

Everyone knows from snowball fights that not all snow is the same: wet "sticky snow" is great for this, but dry powder snow is completely unsuitable. Wet snow falls in thick flakes at temperatures around or slightly above zero degrees. It contains a high proportion of water, which makes it particularly heavy and "sticky." Light powder snow, on the other hand, which consists of dry snow crystals, falls in small flakes during severe frost.

In Central Europe, due to the warmer winter temperatures – unlike in Scandinavia or Canada, for example – wet snow is the norm. This makes clearing it more complicated and time-consuming. Safe flight operations are only possible with wet snow up to a depth of 12 millimeters. With dry powder snow, the limit is four times higher, at 50 millimeters. 

When the weather forecast reports "freezing rain," drivers and pedestrians alike are alarmed. Everyone understands that slippery roads and paths are dangerous. The situation is particularly critical at airports. Freezing rain generally refers to two different weather phenomena: on the one hand, when the precipitation already consists of small frozen ice particles. On the other hand, when liquid rain hits frozen surfaces and immediately freezes into a layer of ice. This is also referred to as “freezing rain.” And it is precisely this ice crust that poses a particularly stubborn challenge for airports, both on the ground and on aircraft and handling equipment.

Stefan Häberlein knows that good timing is particularly important in such situations: "Immediately before the freezing rain arrives, we apply the de-icing agent so that it can take effect before the rain actually turns to ice on the ground."

A competent team and a modern fleet of vehicles ensure that Munich Airport can always adhere to a central principle in air traffic, even in winter weather: safety always comes first!