On Day 3 of Airside Safety Week, we will highlight the teams and practices that keep our runways safe.
On-site activities
Our in-person programming features fun, interactive ways to learn and test our skills. Today’s on-site activities include:
- ASO Ride Along*
- Wildlife Control Officer Site Visit*
- Runway and Apron Safety Discussion Forum (by invitation only)
*Prior registration required
Check out our on-site activities page to learn more about how you can participate. Make sure to register before the deadline!
Online learning
Today we are highlighting Runway Safety, including a review of:
- Airside fires
- Snow contamination
- Airfield lighting
Once you have reviewed the day’s learning material, test your knowledge of Runway Safety by taking today’s quiz (links to quizzes will be accessible September 16 to 20).
Participants in today's quiz will be automatically entered into a prize draw.
Millions of travelers rely on the fluid movement in and out of Toronto Pearson each year. To support this volume of movement, we must have minimal disruption to aircraft movements and constant maintenance of the runways (as well as other airfield and groundside surfaces). There are various hazards that must be prevented to ensure safe passage through the airport.
Airside Fires
Aircraft fires can occur for many different reasons, such as:
- Ancillary equipment malfunctions
- e.g., When an overheated Ground Power Unit catches fire and the fire spreads to the aircraft.
- Hot brakes
- Motor vehicle collision
- Open flame near a fueling operation
- Aircraft crash
Although not a frequent occurrence, aircraft fires are never a minor event. Highly trained Toronto Pearson firefighters are always ready for these calls.
How is firefighting different at the airport?
Firefighting in an airport setting is quite different than municipal firefighting. Aircraft fires usually involve large quantities of flammable liquid, such as jet fuel. These fires burn faster and hotter than regular combustible materials.
Small fires:
- If spotted early enough, aircraft fires may be controlled or extinguished with one of the wheeled fire extinguishers that are present at every aircraft gate.
- Employees who work on the apron must ensure that they receive appropriate training on how to use a wheeled fire extinguisher.
Large fires:
- If the fire is too big to be extinguished with a wheeled unit, do not attempt to fight the fire.
- Ensure everyone in the area moves a safe distance away and immediately call the Airport Emergency Line at 416-776-3033. Trained firefighters will arrive on scene in under 3 minutes.
Snow Removal
The winter season at Toronto Pearson starts November 1 and continues through the end of April. During this time, many teams are available around the clock to ensure the proper preparation and appropriate response during periods of inclement weather. These teams include:
- Airside Ground Operations
- Airfield Maintenance snow teams
- Snow removal contracted services
Airports have unique requirements concerning snow piles:
- It is unsafe and prohibited to have snow piles on an airfield as they pose a serious hazard to the safe movement of aircraft.
- Snow blowers help eliminate hazardous snow piles and windrows by casting them into spread-out areas and dispersing the snow evenly.
Anti-ice chemicals and procedures
- Due to the environmental impact and destructive nature of harsh chemicals such as salt, they are not permitted to be used on airports.
- Runway sweepers are used in combination with anti-ice chemicals to help clear snow down to the bare pavement, reducing compacted snow buildup.
- Potassium Acetate is the most commonly used liquid snow and ice control chemical used at Toronto Pearson.
- When applied directly to an uncontaminated paved surface, Potassium Acetate acts as a barrier that prevents the bonding of compact snow to the pavement.
- It is applied using spray trucks.
- It is most effective as an anti-ice chemical but is occasionally used to melt small amounts of snow accumulation, or, in combination with Sodium Formate, as a prewetting agent.
Caution! Airport maintenance staff must be very diligent when deciding to apply Potassium Acetate as it is not ideal in all circumstances. Cold temperatures, high winds and dry snow will normally blow off a dry runway. However, when pretreated with Potassium Acetate, paved surfaces tend to trap dry, blowing snow with a sticking effect resulting in the need to mechanically remove it with runway sweepers and snow blowers. Therefore, it is imperative that Runway Maintenance personnel monitor weather forecasts closely.
Foreign Object Debris
The removal of FOD (Foreign Object Debris) is a major concern at airports, as it poses a significant safety and maintenance cost threat when encountered by an aircraft. Although primarily used on aprons and landside roads, road sweepers are occasionally used on runways and taxiways for specific debris removal tasks.
Airfield Lighting
To facilitate safe aircraft movement at the airport during night operation or poor weather conditions, runways, taxiways and aprons are equipped with various kinds of lighting. The lights act as visual aids to the pilots taking off from and landing at Toronto Pearson.
Measuring light intensity:
- According to Canada Aviation Regulations, runway lighting must have a main beam average intensity of 50 percent or higher or it is considered failed.
- Toronto Pearson has equipment and a highly skilled team to monitor our runway lighting closely.
- The photometrics testing trailer measures the output of the lights on the runways which is a Transport Canada standard to test the brightness.
- The inset truck carries all the equipment needed for the airfield electrical team to maintain the lights on the movement area.
Thank you for reviewing today’s reminders about Runway Safety. After you take today’s quiz, be sure to join us again tomorrow for another learning opportunity and chance to win a cash prize!