Civil engineers battle ice and snow on the flightline

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathanael Callon
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  When the temperature outside drops below freezing and rain turns to ice and snow, the Spangdahlem Snow Control team is ready to respond.

More than 90 members of the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron make up Snow Control, with 66 active-duty engineers solely responsible for the snow and ice removal of more than 3,700 acres of runway, taxiways and ramps here at Spangdahlem Air Base.

"With planes constantly coming and going here, it is essential that we have the airfield clear so that the flying mission can continue," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Nelson, a pavements and construction craftsman from the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron in his second year as part of the snow control team. "There are three shifts that we run in order to provide 24-hour support."

Even when there is no precipitation falling, the team is ready to respond.

"Even after we've cleared the runway, it just takes one outgoing plane to blow snow into the air again," said Sergeant Nelson as a C-17 Globemaster III took off, leaving behind a wall of snow soon to settle back on the runway. "Because many of these cargo planes are transporting time-sensitive supplies and personnel to bases downrange, our job out here is never finished."

Cargo planes are not the only aircraft affected by the winter precipitation. Spangdahlem is the home to two fighter squadrons that must continuously train for overseas contingency operations.

Even a thin layer of snow can have a devastating effect on runway operations, said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hartwell, a shift leader for the team.

"Our fighters move at a much faster speed than the heavier aircraft, so it's critical that the runway is always clear," Sergeant Hartwell added.

New equipment has helped the team remove snow faster, allowing them to maximize their effectiveness.

"We used to have old dump trucks that were modified to shovel snow and spray ice," Sergeant Nelson said. "The problem was that these trucks could only run at about 5 mph. These new Oshkosh vehicles are able to run much faster and have interchangeable parts that make them more versatile for whatever situation we are dealing with."

Dealing with the different modes of winter precipitation make the job difficult, but it is nothing new to Sergeants Nelson and Hartwell.

"We stood up Snow Control this year on Thanksgiving Day," Sergeant Hartwell said. "It's not ideal, but the mission must go on. We'll be out here for the next six months doing what we need to do. Rain, snow, sleet or fog, we are out here ensuring the runway is clear and that aircraft operations can safely continue."