Southwest Airlines slides off runway

[JustN89]

Another Southwest airplane departed the runway, this time at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, NE. Fortunately, no one was injured and the airplane was recovered in short order. According to SWA, it occurred while taxiing. That makes two instances in less than two months, albeit both occurred in less than ideal weather conditions.

LINK

 

[Virtus_Probi]

I'm not sure if I would be ticked off as a passenger because this would surely lead to a hefty delay (I'd assume a new plane would be needed) or I'd just be ecstatic that nobody got hurt?

Probably ecstatic followed by ticked...

 

[anndel]

Where was the first one, Midway in Chicago? I heard a United plane skidded off the runway at O'Hare this past weekend.

 

[FFeng7]

I have always wondered if they treat the runways or taxiways with anything similar to the way they do roads. I suppose any sand or salt could cause damage to the engines if they did

 

[Chris142]

2 years ago we were stuck at the airport in Portland Oregon. Our plane.... Alaska air lines would not take off in 1/4 inch of snow. It continued to snow. We got rescheduled to a Hawaiian airlines which took off in a blizzard. Figure that out.

 

[E365]

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[CT8]

Having driven on icy roads I can see how that mishap can happen.

 

[Astro14]

According to a good friend, who is a SWA Captain, "The most dangerous place on an airport is between me and the gate!".

They are always taxiing very fast, much faster than I would taxi...

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted by Chris142
2 years ago we were stuck at the airport in Portland Oregon. Our plane.... Alaska air lines would not take off in 1/4 inch of snow. It continued to snow. We got rescheduled to a Hawaiian airlines which took off in a blizzard. Figure that out.


Depends on the airplane. 1/4" of snow degrades acceleration.

For a heavy 737, that might be enough to preclude a safe takeoff.

For a lightly loaded 757/767, which has a lot of extra power, it might be no big deal.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted by FFeng7
I have always wondered if they treat the runways or taxiways with anything similar to the way they do roads. I suppose any sand or salt could cause damage to the engines if they did


Liquid chemical (not certain what) is sprayed. No sand or rock salt, as you guessed.

But airports have big plows, and lots of them, along with melters and other equipment to clear down to concrete.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by Chris142
2 years ago we were stuck at the airport in Portland Oregon. Our plane.... Alaska air lines would not take off in 1/4 inch of snow. It continued to snow. We got rescheduled to a Hawaiian airlines which took off in a blizzard. Figure that out.

Not sure why one could over another but PDX can really ice up when the cold east winds come through the gorge. That airport is right on the Columbia river.

I-84 can be a real nightmare when the conditions are right.

 

[JustN89]

Originally Posted by anndel
Where was the first one, Midway in Chicago? I heard a United plane skidded off the runway at O'Hare this past weekend.

Los Angeles, I believe.

 

[MNgopher]

Originally Posted by Astro14
Originally Posted by FFeng7
I have always wondered if they treat the runways or taxiways with anything similar to the way they do roads. I suppose any sand or salt could cause damage to the engines if they did


Liquid chemical (not certain what) is sprayed. No sand or rock salt, as you guessed.

But airports have big plows, and lots of them, along with melters and other equipment to clear down to concrete.


Potassium Acetate or Potassium Formate are typically the two liquids used in aviation applications to clear runways, etc...

That being said, the preferred approach is to physically remove the ice or snow contaminant - and airports used to dealing with snow and ice have a tremendous amount of equipment that is often much larger than what is used on the roads near you. Usually a combination of plow, sweeps, and blowers, depending on how wet or dry the snow is that needs to be moved.

A little insight into how the airport here does things...

https://airportimprovement.com/arti...rs-peek-inside-its-snow-removal-playbook

 

[quint]

A Delta jet went off the runway at CVG last week after the heavy snow we had here. Looked like a B737.

 

[Oily_Thing]

On skidded off the runway two weeks ago in Columbia, MO

 

[Astro14]

While this is long, and detailed, I've read it, and it explains why airplanes leave the runway...

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/27370/ar2008018_1.pdf

 

[Greggy_D]

Originally Posted by Astro14


They are always taxiing very fast


I was about to post this from a passenger's point of view. I notice this on every Southwest flight I'm on.

 

[PimTac]

There was a comment on a aviation forum indicating that OHare has a habit of clearing all but the final end of a runway. Maybe that is to speed up clearing operations and they figure the planes need the traction the most at the touchdown point and then forward. TowRds the end they should be slow enough to negotiate the turn offs.

That said, it's all guessing since we were not there but maybe the pilots here have some insight?

Also, the media as always tends to exaggerate things. Reporting that a plane skidded off the runway sounds better than reporting that plane when turning off lost traction and part of the landing gear went off the paved surface.

 

[ragtoplvr]

airlines must pay for deicing. If the plane is not very full canceling flight could be cheaper.

Rod

 

[Rand]

https://airportimprovement.com/arti...rs-peek-inside-its-snow-removal-playbook

I was reading that and either I've lost half my marbles or can someone explain this to me.

Quote
With average snow accumulations of 4 1/2 feet per winter, snow removal is serious business at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Crews plow, blow, broom and deice more than 28 million square feet in airfield pavement alone - the equivalent of a two-lane highway running from the Twin Cities to New Orleans.


ok so 28million square feet sounds like alot.

but 28million /road width = road length..

I'm coming up with something like 176 miles of road.. hardly MN to NO?

and some of their other numbers seem in need of checking.. but I am tired so???

28,000,000/30 (2 lane road width 30ft) = 933,933 ft of road =176.77 miles of 2 lane road?