Re: weather related closers
Who decides to close an airport? Who has the authority to close it?
FAA? Joint decision w/ local operators? ( I prefer no WAGs or speculation).
For weather-related closures, it’s important to distinguish between a ground stop and an actual, physical airport closure. The latter is much less common.
Air Traffic Control/the FAA will issue ground stops to all inbound or outbound traffic depending on weather circumstances. The airport may remain “open,” but will not accept inbound traffic.
As far as an actual airport closure, that would be determined by the local airport operating authority. For example, if JFK were to outright close due to weather conditions (for plowing, dangerous conditions, etc.), that would be the PANYNJ’s call.
More often than not, when an airline tells you that an airport is closed due to weather, they mean that a stop has been put in place for all traffic bound for that airport.
The airport operator is solely responsible for closing an airport.
Firstly, airports rarely “close” due to snow. Only one runway may be open, reducing arrival acceptance rates; or it may be open with an hour’s prior permission, but the airport is not technically “closed.” Because airports are required under Part 139 to have snow and ice control procedures and equipment, it is expected that some portion of the airport will remain open throughout a snow event.
To legally operate a commercial airport in the US, the airport operator has to comply with 14 CFR 139, Certification of Airports. Part 139 addresses (amongst other things) training airport workers, safety areas, lighting and marking, wildlife control, firefighting, and snow and ice control.
The specific language that 139 uses in regards to the airport operator is this:
§ 139.313 Snow and ice control.(b)(5) Prompt notification, in accordance with § 139.339, of all air carriers using the airport when any portion of the movement area normally available to them is less than satisfactorily cleared for safe operation by their aircraft.
That notification is done to the air carriers (airlines) at the airport, plus to the FAA Air Traffic Control folks so they can coordinate holds or diversions for those already enroute to the airport, or ground stops for those who haven’t taken off yet.
The Advisory Circular (not a regulation in the strict sense, but you need to do it to meet the regulation) for Winter Weather operations has this to say as to “when” the airport operator must close a runway to aircraft operations:
5-6. Requirements For Runway Closures. The following circumstances require theprescribed action by the airport operator:
a. A NIL pilot braking action report (PIREP), or NIL braking action assessment by the airport operator, requires that the runway be closed before the next flight operation. The runway must remain closed until the airport operator is satisfied that the NIL condition no longer exists.
b. When previous PIREPs have indicated GOOD or MEDIUM (FAIR) braking action, two consecutive POOR PIREPS should be taken as evidence that surface conditions may be deteriorating and require the airport operator to conduct a runway assessment. If the airport operator has not already instituted its continuous monitoring procedures (see paragraph 5-7), this assessment must occur before the next operation. If the airport operator is already continuously monitoring runway conditions, this assessment must occur as soon as air traffic volume allows, in accordance with their SICP. Deteriorating conditions include but are not limited to:
• Frozen or freezing precipitation
• Falling air or pavement temperatures that may cause a wet runway to freeze
• Rising air or pavement temperatures that may cause frozen contaminants to melt
• Removal of abrasives previously applied to the runway due to wind or airplane affects
• Frozen contaminants blown onto the runway by wind
For some bedtime reading, you can browse the Advisory Circular. A brief 65 pages of FAA fun!
Mayor Daley. :mad:
Oh, you mean that kind of closure. Never mind.
For further investigation into the OP’s query, the 1970 film Airport is required viewing. In addition to managing efforts to keep the runways clear of snow, it is the airport manager who is charged with mistress affairs, angry wife relations and heavy drinking. It’s sort of like “Mad Men” for airports.