Scenario: an airport has a Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP), and the equipment team is asked whether the fleet is ready to carry it out. Direct answer: the plan sets what equipment must do, so readiness means being able to show each item can do it, with spare parts and trained operators. I did not read 14 CFR Part 139.313, so I state no requirement of it. One FAA circular I read says its information should be used to develop the plan, which links equipment choices to planning. This draft is a question list.
What I verified
- FAA AC 150/5220-20A says its information should be used to develop a Snow and Ice Control Plan under 14 CFR Part 139.313.
- The same circular says it is not generally mandatory but is mandatory for federally funded projects.
Questions to connect the plan to the fleet
| Area | Question | Evidence to hold |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Does the fleet have enough plows, brooms and blowers for the areas and times in the plan? | Equipment list tied to the plan’s areas |
| Availability | How many units are ready on a given day, and what is the target? | Daily readiness record |
| Wear items | What edges, brooms and brushes are in stock, and how long do they last? | Stock count and usage log |
| Spares | Are there spares for the items most likely to fail, held where they can be reached? | Spares list with locations |
| Checks | When are pre-season and pre-shift checks done, and by whom? | Signed checklists |
| People | Who is trained on each machine, and when was the last drill? | Training and drill records |
| Pavement | Which edges are allowed in which areas, for example near in-pavement lighting? | Marked map and written rule |
| Supply | What is the lead time for key parts, and what is the fallback? | Supplier contacts and lead times |
How to use it
The plan is an equipment list and an action list, and the gaps are what matter.
- Take the latest copy of the plan and list what equipment and actions it references.
- Fill in the table for each item, and mark gaps.
- Assign owners and dates for each gap.
- Review before each season and after each major event.
Boundary: I did not read 14 CFR Part 139.313 and state no regulatory requirement; the question table is advice.
Sources and further reading. External references are dated; where a figure is quoted, the link shows where it came from.
Federal Aviation Administration: AC 150/5220-20A, Airport Snow and Ice Control Equipment (PDF text) (Issued 2014-09-24; FAA document page lists status Active and an errata sheet dated 2016-11-02 (not read); read 2026-10-24) ↗Studded, Segmented and Insert Edges for Ice Control: Comparing Three Approaches ↗Dimensional Inspection and Tolerance Control on Plow Edges ↗Carbide snow plow blades ↗Apron Surfaces: Concrete, Asphalt and Joint Seals Compared for Edge Contact ↗Airport Grants and Wear Parts: Questions to Ask Before You Assume Eligibility ↗Pre-Winter SRE Readiness Checklist: Edges, Brooms, Fluids, Training ↗
