Heathrow invests extra £500,000 in snow-fighting technology

BAA says it has invested an extra half a million pounds in snow-fighting equipment at Heathrow this year, as the airport prepares for the possibility of snowfall this weekend. The airport operator says Heathrow was the only major UK airport not to close last winter, and added that it has a team of 50 specialist staff, and more than 60 hi-tech vehicles, which “have been preparing since the end of last winter to do everything they can to minimise delays in the face of wintry conditions”. Heathrow has a “snow base” located between the two runways, and says that airside operations teams “have spent the summer refreshing their training with plans being discussed with airlines, baggage handlers and air traffic control to ensure a coordinated response”. Airports use highly concentrated de-icing fluid on runways, as grit could get into aircraft engines, and BAA says that it now has an “innovative computer system that remotely measures how much de-icer is left”, to ensure it does not run out at any stage. As at 1500 GMT on Friday (November 26) the BBC’s weather section is forecasting light snow showers for Greater London on Sunday, At present snow is not forecast for Heathrow over the weekend, while light snow showers are forecast for the Gatwick area on Monday. For more information visit baa.com.