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With an average annual snowfall of 220 centimetres at Montréal-Trudeau airport, and 13 episodes of freezing rain over the past year, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) has invested more than $6 million to prepare for the 2018 winter season.
The replacement of vehicles at the end of their service life and the purchase of new equipment are optimizing operations and minimizing the impact of precipitation.
Due to longer and more frequent periods of freezing rain, and an increase in surfaces to be maintained, ADM has proceeded to:
- Add spreaders and spreader trucks to its fleet of maintenance vehicles; and
- Acquire additional equipment, including a large loader and three front-end loaders.
“Major fluctuations in winter weather conditions are forcing us to review our ways of doing things and refine our techniques,” said Sylvain Marchand, assistant director, Ground Maintenance and Mobile Equipment.
“These new acquisitions are enabling us to improve the speed and quality of our work on the runways, aprons and taxiways. Our teams are better equipped to meet the needs of our passengers and of airlines operating at Montréal-Trudeau.”
Aéroports de Montréal is providing training at other airports around the world and has received several awards for its snow removal operations in North America, including first prize in the “Major Airports” category of The Balchen/Post Award competition.
This competition recognizes excellence in the performance in airport snow and ice control.
