Wichita Airport Crews Practice Snow Removal Formations at Annual Snow Rodeo

Wichita Eisenhower National Airport maintenance crews practiced snow removal formations on Tuesday during the airport’s annual Snow Rodeo to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

The event, which KMUW reported, serves as a critical rehearsal for the facility’s ability to maintain operations during heavy snowfall. While the name suggests a different kind of competition, the actual focus remains on testing equipment and refining the coordination required to keep runways clear.

The Wichita Airport Authority is deploying an expanded fleet of specialized vehicles this year. Three of the trucks in the current fleet were used only once last winter during a January snowstorm, but two additional new vehicles are joining the rotation this season, bringing the total to five.

The new equipment is designed for multi-functional efficiency. Unlike traditional single-purpose plows, these vehicles are capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously.

“This is equipment that has the blade, the blower and the brushes all in one,” said Rachel Mayberry, air service and marketing manager for the Wichita Airport Authority. “We call them the big insects because that’s what they look like.”

Mayberry noted that while practice begins in the fall, the November Snow Rodeo is the primary rehearsal before a major weather event arrives.

The effectiveness of these machines depends heavily on the specific environmental variables present during a storm. The crews must adjust their tactics based on whether the snow is dry or wet, the current ground temperature, wind speed, and wind direction.

During the drills, yellow snow removal vehicles rumble down the runways in specific formations. Some of these tactical arrangements are named after hockey plays from the movie The Mighty Ducks.

One such formation is the “Flying V,” where trucks fan out into a V shape. This maneuver is led by a crew member designated as the “Snow Boss.” This individual acts similarly to a quarterback, calling the necessary plays based on the evolving conditions on the ground.

Coordination is vital because visibility often drops to near zero during actual winter storms.

“You can’t see out there, and one of the worst things our drivers can do would be to stop, because then you have all this equipment piled up on each other,” Mayberry said.

Because of these visibility challenges, Mayberry emphasized that drivers must learn to trust the Snow Boss and continue their movements even when they cannot see the vehicles around them.

The primary objective for the maintenance teams is to ensure that at least one runway remains open during any major snow event. While the airport crews work to keep the facility functional, the decision to delay or cancel flights remains with the individual airlines.

When a storm is forecasted, staff typically arrive at the airport approximately 12 hours in advance. Crews often work around the clock to manage the accumulation.

The airport provides barracks for staff to sleep in during these extended shifts, and the effort often extends beyond the maintenance department, with administrative staff also assisting in snow removal efforts.