Winter at Oslo Airport

At Oslo Airport Gardermoen, Norway's main airport, winter is defined as the period between October 15th and April 15th. Since Oslo Airport Gardermoen is located inland, climate conditions can vary from mild to rainy to freezing fog. These variations in climatological conditions present challenges to maintaining clear runways, especially considering the fact that the airport is built over a large reservoir of ground water, requiring limited use of snow removing chemicals in order to avoid pollution. The article discusses in detail how winter maintenance is conducted, from both a manpower utilization and communications standpoint. There is also a detailed discussion of de-icing and snow removal methods (where sand is used as an alternative though albeit more costly method which must be shared between Oslo Airport's airline partners). An inventory list of equipment used in snow removal – from sweepers and snow blowers to chemical spreaders and friction testing vehicles – is also included.