Airport Buys More Snow Equipment
December 15, 2018 at 3:34 a.m.
Airport Buys More Snow Equipment
By Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
A good example involves snow removal, according to airport manager Nick King.
Just a few years ago, the wingspan of the biggest jets using the airport was about 75 feet.
These days, one jet based at the airport and six more that use it regularly have wingspans nearly as wide as the 100-foot width of the runways.
When it comes to snow removal, the larger jets need piles of snow on the sides of the runway to be pushed back as far as possible.
The tricky part is that pushing too much snow off the runway tends to cover up runway lights just beyond the asphalt.
As a result, the airport in recent weeks purchased a Kubota tractor and several attachments that will compliment its basic snow removal equipment.
One of the attachments is a snow blower that will throw snow beyond the runway lights, King said.
The airport uses several pickups to remove snow from the runways and the rest of the airport property, and the additional equipment will improve those abilities.
A Kubota compact track loader was purchased last month for $60,000. The final price was reduced by $19,000 with two trade-ins, King said.
On Tuesday, the aviation board approved the purchase of attachments and other items that total about $10,750.
“Cleaning that full width of the runway ... is very, very important and something we’re working hard to try and maintain that runway surface,” King said.
Other attachments include a specialized bucket and a snow blade that can be flipped and used to pull snow away from hangar doors more carefully than traditional equipment.
Also included were a strobe light, rearview camera kit and a pallet fork.
Airport officials chose Kubota because other departments use similar equipment that is interchangeable.
King said the city saved almost $9,000 through a group pricing program.
The equipment will be ready for use within a weeks, King said, adding they like to have a snow plan ready by late December.
In another matter, the airport board met in an emergency session Friday to receive bids from contractors to replace the roof on the terminal building.
Problems with the roof have lingered for years, mostly because of a faulty seam between the observation room – known by some as the tower – and the rest of the building, which has a flat roof.
The cost is expected to be between $30,000 and $50,000.
The board is expected to select a contractor for the project next month.
Replacement of the roof will likely not happen until spring, King said.
An orange bucket was placed at the steps of the observation room Friday to catch drips. Several ceiling tiles in different areas of the building show the stains from previous leaks.
A good example involves snow removal, according to airport manager Nick King.
Just a few years ago, the wingspan of the biggest jets using the airport was about 75 feet.
These days, one jet based at the airport and six more that use it regularly have wingspans nearly as wide as the 100-foot width of the runways.
When it comes to snow removal, the larger jets need piles of snow on the sides of the runway to be pushed back as far as possible.
The tricky part is that pushing too much snow off the runway tends to cover up runway lights just beyond the asphalt.
As a result, the airport in recent weeks purchased a Kubota tractor and several attachments that will compliment its basic snow removal equipment.
One of the attachments is a snow blower that will throw snow beyond the runway lights, King said.
The airport uses several pickups to remove snow from the runways and the rest of the airport property, and the additional equipment will improve those abilities.
A Kubota compact track loader was purchased last month for $60,000. The final price was reduced by $19,000 with two trade-ins, King said.
On Tuesday, the aviation board approved the purchase of attachments and other items that total about $10,750.
“Cleaning that full width of the runway ... is very, very important and something we’re working hard to try and maintain that runway surface,” King said.
Other attachments include a specialized bucket and a snow blade that can be flipped and used to pull snow away from hangar doors more carefully than traditional equipment.
Also included were a strobe light, rearview camera kit and a pallet fork.
Airport officials chose Kubota because other departments use similar equipment that is interchangeable.
King said the city saved almost $9,000 through a group pricing program.
The equipment will be ready for use within a weeks, King said, adding they like to have a snow plan ready by late December.
In another matter, the airport board met in an emergency session Friday to receive bids from contractors to replace the roof on the terminal building.
Problems with the roof have lingered for years, mostly because of a faulty seam between the observation room – known by some as the tower – and the rest of the building, which has a flat roof.
The cost is expected to be between $30,000 and $50,000.
The board is expected to select a contractor for the project next month.
Replacement of the roof will likely not happen until spring, King said.
An orange bucket was placed at the steps of the observation room Friday to catch drips. Several ceiling tiles in different areas of the building show the stains from previous leaks.
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