2006-11-28 17:51:07 · 7 answers · asked by jen1981everett 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
No they are not.
They keep them ice free by utting a mineral mix on he runway....which is very mugh like salt. Once spread on the runway it lowers the temperature at which water can freeze...that is water will not freeze at 0 degree celcius and freeze at wll below that temperatue if the mineral mix is sprayed over the runway. So even at low temperature the runway is ice free.
2006-11-28 18:24:11 · answer #1 · answered by zoomzoom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No the runways are not heated, they spread a mixture on the runway to melt the ice, very similar to what they do on the roads. You will find at sometimes that the runway is not completely ice free and the aircraft continue to operate in a safe manner.
The airport crews work really hard to keep up with the winter weather, ie... most of them are out all night plowing and treating the runways so passengers don't have to be inconvenienced by bad weather.
2006-11-29 01:23:35 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few attempts have been made at heating airport runways but the cost of fuel to keep it sufficiently warm is prohibitive.
Various compounds are used to reduce the accumulation of ice on runways. The most popular is urea. It is most effective if it is spread on the runways and taxiways prior to precipitiation. Liquid anti-icing compounds are sometimes used when allowed by environmental regulations. Propolene glycol (a close relative of the anti-freeze in your car) is preferred as it is nonpoisonous and low polluting. Frequent physical cleaning -- snow plows and huge rotary brushes -- is also employed to keep runways and taxiways as clean as possible.
It's a common mis-conception that runways must be totally ice and snow free for safe operations. Nor is it practical to achieve that. During precipitation, runways are frequently tested and a friction coefficient is published for aircrews to use in calculating safe landing distances. If the runway is long enough, an airplane can safely land on glare ice. Temperature is a significant factor here as well. If temps are right near freezing the surface may be very slippery making aircraft operations impossible. However at very low temps -- say -30 F or below, glare ice has nearly as good a friction coefficient as bare concrete and its presense is not a significant hazard to aviation.
2006-11-28 23:18:28 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no. hell no. how did you even imagine of that. did not you spot in some airports, there are those massive autos shifting up and down the runway pushing the snow to scrub it off for planes. rather glaring in various of US airports throughout winters
2016-11-27 20:32:53 · answer #4 · answered by quijada 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO they aren't. They just keep plows on them to keep them clear and if it gets too bad, they cancel flights!
2006-11-28 22:30:28 · answer #5 · answered by Tyler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't heat them.
The most common deicing chemical is urea which is only good down to -7C.
2006-11-28 20:54:17 · answer #6 · answered by Chris H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the pilot, flight crew, bagage handlears, they all piss on the runway before they clock in for the day, the amonia and saliene in the urin acts as a cheep deicer. the only down side to the system is that the tiers tend to drip dry in flight. (ever have a plane fly over head) no body objects because nobody beleaves.
2006-11-28 18:30:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 7⤋