East Midlands Airport is ready for winter with new snowploughs – and the chance to name them

SnowploughsMAN

The airport’s previous fleet of snow and ice clearing vehicles was coming to the end of its operational life, and as part of an ongoing £120m investment programme at the airport, a new fleet has been bought and is being put through its paces ready for any snow and ice this winter.

The fleet consists of six Schmidt snowploughs known as Compact Jet Sweepers which when working together can clear the runway in 24 minutes – an area of 130,000m2 of asphalt. Also joining the fleet is a snow-cutter blower which can move 5,000 tonnes of snow per hour.

As with the rest of the airport’s ground vehicles, the new winter fleet will run on vegetable oil-based biodiesel which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%, as part of East Midlands’ commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2038.

The new equipment is being put through its paces and staff are being trained in its use as part of the airport’s Winter Operations Plan. More than 80 staff from the Airport Fire department and Airfield Operations team, who are at the frontline of responding, work with many more members of staff across 14 teams, plus airlines and external contractors, so that vital support is in place when snow and ice threaten to affect operations.

Now the airport is asking local children for suggestions of what three of the snowploughs and the snow-cutter blower could be called. Similar naming competitions for road gritters have resulted in the likes of Gritney Spears and Brad Grit – so the airport is looking for similar imagination and humour from local youngsters. Entries should made using this online form Snow plough naming competition – Fill in form and include the child’s name and age, their entry, guardian’s name and their mobile number. The closing date is 9am Monday 15 December, after which winners will be picked by a panel of judges.

Winners, including three entries from members of airport staff, will not only have snowploughs and the snow-cutter blower marked up with their suggested names, but will be invited along with their parent or guardian to the airport on Tuesday 30 December to be shown them and receive a certificate. Each winner will also receive a family ticket for the stunning new attraction at Twycross Zoo, Lanterns of the Wild. This special festive attraction features over a mile of 2,000 breathtaking lanterns of animals, other wildlife, and even the Gruffalo.

East Midlands Airport’s Operations Director Lauren Turner said: “Our ability to clear snow and ice from the airfield is vital for the safe running of the airport during the winter, so we’re pleased to have invested in a new fleet of vehicles which will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of this part of our operation.

“Our teams are training on the new vehicles so that if we get snow and ice at the airport this winter, they will spring into action to ensure the impact on our customers is minimised. And while this is a serious part of our business, we’d like to have some fun with the naming of our new snowploughs – so we’re looking forward to hearing everyone’s suggestions.”

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