WASHINGTON — BWI Marshall Airport won’t have to rely on outside contractors to clear snow from important navigational equipment anymore.
The airport is purchasing its own snowcat.
The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved the purchase of a Prinroth Husky for about $232,000 from Fortbrand Services Inc., a company that sells sophisticated aviation and airfield maintenance equipment.
The snow-grooming vehicle is most commonly used for smoothing ski slopes. It can drive on top of snow and move, flatten, till and compact it, and can do its job where regular snow removal equipment can’t.
At BWI Marshall, it will be used to smooth snow around sensitive glidescope antennas that are part of the airport’s navigation system.
During past major winter storms in 2010 and 2016, crews from Liberty Mountain Ski Resort in Pennsylvania brought a snowcat vehicle to BWI Marshall to remove and smooth snow around its glidescope antennas, moving nearly 10 acres of snow during each storm.
“The innovative use of the snowcat vehicle helped us bring critical navigation technology back online in a more timely manner after major snowfalls,” said BWI Marshall Airport executive director Ricky Smith.
“The vehicle will help ensure safe airline operations following major winter storms and a faster return to service for airport users.”
Standard airport snow-removal equipment is designed to plow or blow snow from paved surfaces, but can’t operate on grassy surfaces, where glidescope antennas are located.
The glidescope is part of an Instrument Landing System and is especially important during poor weather and limited visibility.
The snowcat will also be used to remove snow from around the hundreds of airfield lights at signs.
