When winter weather unleashes its fury, travelers often find themselves pondering a crucial question: Can planes safely land in snowy conditions? Recent aviation mishaps, such as the harrowing incident involving a Delta aircraft narrowly avoiding a crash in Toronto, have only heightened this concern among many individuals. Seeking clarity on this intricate matter, we engaged in conversation with an esteemed aviation specialist who provided us with a comprehensive overview of the stringent safety measures, meticulous planning strategies, and real-time meteorological monitoring procedures that are diligently executed behind the scenes to ensure that planes can touch down securely in snowy settings.
Ravi Vanmali, the Head of Aviation at The Weather Company, underscores that safety always reigns supreme in the realm of aviation. “It truly boils down to adhering to established protocols, incorporating redundant safety mechanisms and protocols, and consistently operating in a manner that prioritizes safety above all else,” he elucidates.
Airports go to great lengths to guarantee safe landings in wintry conditions, undertaking tasks such as runway plowing and the application of de-icing agents. “While we may not be able to prevent these winter storms, we are certainly equipped to prepare for them,” Vanmali emphasizes. “A considerable amount of meticulous sequencing, planning, and coordination is involved—it is essentially about ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as a well-oiled machine.” In regions characterized by extreme cold, certain runways are intentionally constructed using snow and ice.
Expanding on this point, one of the primary challenges encountered during flights in snowy weather pertains to the presence of ice rather than snow itself. “The primary consequence of winter weather operations is the necessity for airlines to conduct de-icing procedures on aircraft,” Vanmali points out. De-icing plays a pivotal role in preventing the accumulation of snow and ice on aerodynamic surfaces, which could potentially disrupt the flight characteristics of an aircraft.
Snowy conditions also influence how air traffic control orchestrates takeoffs and landings. “An observable practice is the introduction of increased spacing between aircraft during takeoffs and landings,” Vanmali observes. “Drawing a parallel to driving a car—you instinctively reduce speed when it rains or snows. The same principle applies to aviation.”
A significant portion of aviation delays, more than three-quarters, can be attributed to inclement weather, underscoring the indispensable nature of accurate forecasting. Airports and airlines rely on up-to-the-minute weather updates, including data provided by The Weather Company, to recalibrate flight schedules and brace for impending storms. “Preparedness is the cornerstone of success in this domain, and such readiness is only attainable through access to precise, dependable information,” Vanmali affirms.
Despite the potential for snow-related delays, aviation experts reassure travelers that landing safely in wintry conditions is indeed achievable, courtesy of meticulous preparation, cutting-edge technology, and an unwavering commitment to safety that underscores
