Skid prevention on runways

Airport winter maintenance is in a key position in Finland in ensuring the safety and punctuality of air traffic. The northern conditions in Finland require diversely skilled maintenance staff and efficient machinery. Winter maintenance at Finavia airports is of a high standard and very competitive internationally.

Skid prevention methods

Mechanical methods, sweeping and ploughing, are the main skid-prevention methods used on runways. Chemical de-icing agents are required for removing frost and ice from the runway surface and for skid prevention.

Substances currently used are sodium acetate, potassium acetate, sodium formate, potassium formate and, to a small extent, urea. Liquid substances containing some 50% water, potassium acetate and potassium formate, are used for defrosting and removing thin ice, while thicker ice removal requires granular agents such as sodium acetate, sodium formate or urea. Granular de-icing agents thaw the ice through to the runway surface when necessary, after which the surface is cleared by snow ploughs or sweepers. Most of the de-icing agents (80%) used at airports are liquid agents, since runways seldom acquire a thick ice surface.