OREANDA-NEWS. On 02 March 2009 was announced, that during winter season 2008-2009 new snow-ploughs bought in 2008 are being received by Pulkovo Airport. Owing to this fact fast runway ice, snow cleaning and constant airdrome maintenance are produced.

During the year of 2008 were received snow cutters and clearing devices on the amount of 150 million rubles. The main airport purchase is brushing-blowoff self-propelled vehicles by Vammas (Finnish company).

Output of snow cutters of this type is considered to be one of the most efficient in the world (e.g. runway area, which is 250 000 m2, Vammas vehicles clear of snow in 20 minutes). Here we find  triple cleaning mechanism of cleaning the runway by means of one vehicle: plough snow removal, surface cleaning with high-speed brushes and cold air blow-off – this all helps to avoid expenses for obtaining additional vehicles. Fleet of machinery increased with a new highly productive rotor for cleaning snow billows left after runway cleaning (the rotor is produced by OSHKOSH company, USA, its cleaning speed is similar to Vammas wares). Technical re-equipment programme 2009 includes purchase of the second similar vehicle from the USA.

Airdrome reagent treatment is produced by means of the two new vehicles by Shmidt company (Germany): they work with dry and liquid chemical reagents. Computerized system of reagents supply helps to clear consumption of substances accurate within gram per square metre.

Operation of new snow-ploughs and water carts will not stop in summer. During warm season brushing-blowoff vehicles will be used for blow-off of the airdrome surface; vehicle for dry chemical reagents will be transformed into a lorry.