Why don't they have heated runways?

Question

Why don't they heat runways in cold areas?

Answer 1

Your average commercial airport runway is a slab of concrete that's from 7,000 to 10,000 feet long, 150 to 200 feet wide, and up to 36 inches thick. That's more than SIX MILLION CUBIC FEET of concrete. Multiply that by the total number of runways on the airport (Six or eight for the largest airports)... and that doesn't include the miles of taxiways, ramps and parking areas that also have to be kept clear for aircraft movement.

How would you suggest they provide enough heat to keep the ice and snow melted off these huge slabs of concrete when outside air temps drop below freezing, or a major storm system drops several inches of snow per hour onto the airport?

Answer 2

Way too much money,

It would be nice to see airports use geothermal energy to heat at least the last 2000 ft of runways in cold high traffic areas, for safety/ braking ability,
And only use it when needed, probably would help. But still very expensive.

Right now driving a plow truck down the runway clearing snow is the cheapest, and most efficient way of getting the job done.

Answer 3

A- It would be extremely expensive and you would end up paying for it (airline tickets)
B- If something goes wrong, that means tearing up the runway and fixing it and repaving it. (more money)
C- Friction = heat and the friction from the wheels touching down plus the heat equals FIRE!!!
D- It would be plausible for a plane sitting awaiting clearance could have its tries melt due to the heat.
E- The runway surface isn't that easy for heat to penetrate (or at least I don't think it is nor do I imagine it would be)

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why don't they have heated runways?
Why don't they heat runways in cold areas?

Answer 5

There are 2 US airports that have them....Denver Colorado(DEN) is definatly 1...not sure of the other, maybe Chicago O'hare(ORD).

There is a series of water pipes laying under the runway, and taxiways, which, when needed, are filled with hot water.

The water heats the pipes, the heat rises and warm's the ground.

ITS NOT A FULLPROOF SYSTEM, but it does exsist.

Answer 6

No too much energy to heat so many sq. areas, snow are just specially shovelled on the sides of the runway by trucks or portable machines, aircrafts are sprayed with de-icer before take off

Answer 7

I think it's like the law here (in Green Bay, WI) that we can't have heated driveways or anything, because the melted snow would run into the street and freeze into ice as soon as it was off the heated part.

Answer 8

Heated Runways, I like the idea, always thought about it, but you have to think of other factors!!! Never mind dude!

Answer 9

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Airports have Snow and Ice Plans that are executed according to the weather forcast. In the case of ice, chemical agents (usually Urea) are spread over the airfield surfaces to lower the freezing point of any water around and keep it in a liquid state. In the case of snow, a variety of ploughs are available to clear the runways, taxiways and aprons.

Answer 10

I have a house in utah and it heated its around 300 SQ FT and it cost a ton of money and my contracter said he could not do any longer than 2,000 feet