COVER STORY The Vammas B750 Airport Snow Blower is a high-speed and high-capacity airport snow blower designed to remove piles and windrows of snow from Aircraft Operating Areas including runways, taxiways and ramps. FORTBRAND SERVICES LLC Andrew Perrone, vice president of airfield maintenance equipment for Fortbrand Services. " Airports utilizing AIP funding would most appreciate that this equipment is tested and certified to meet the performance specifications along with meeting the Buy American provisions. Airports with limited occupancy times on their runways and airfield surfaces would benefit from the performance capabilities of clearing two miles of runways in less than 10 minutes. " Ai r por ts look i ng at new snowblowers should consider if they're meeting the expectations of both FAA and the operating airlines during winter operations and if crews are responding to each winter weather event as " expeditiously as possible " until a runway surface condition of " no worse than wet " is attained. Every airport that receives snow needs at least one snow blower. To calculate the number and capacity of these blowers, Braley said the airport must look at air service business at the airport during winter weather events; the number of aircraft operations during peak periods of each day; when are the most restricted occupancy times during most events; and what is the anticipated snow fall accumulations between occupancy times. " They should ask each vendor to certify the performance and capacity of their equipment to ensure they are receiving what they are paying for, " AviationPros.com/10017697 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 31 Perrone said. " They should ask if the equipment meets all provisions listed within the AIP Guidelines allowing the airport to utilize AIP Funds. The airport should ask for references from other airports who own and operate like equipment from same vendor. What type of operating and maintenance service is provided by the vendor? What are the parts support network? "http://www.rampmasters.com http://www.AviationPros.com/10017697 http://www.AVIATIONPROS.COM