What the FAA text says
AC 150/5220-20A, Airport Snow and Ice Control Equipment (issued 24 September 2014), as read on 24 October 2026, includes additional federal AIP/PFC specification requirements for the SAE ARP 5943 snow plow standard. One of them says that only non-metal cutting edges may be used on pavements having in-pavement lighting. In the table of cutting-edge options, tungsten carbide and high carbon steel are marked “Not allowed with in-pavement lighting”, while rubber and polyurethane edges are shown as “must have in-pavement lights”, and rubber-section blades with carbide inserts and reverse-angle edges are also listed as options. The FAA document page lists the AC as active with an errata sheet dated 2 November 2016, which I did not read, so check the current text.
Routine for crews (adapted)
| When | Check |
|---|---|
| Before the season | Walk the pavement with the lighting plan, mark fixture heights, and note any raised or damaged fixtures |
| Before each shift | Check that the edge type is the one allowed for your pavement, and check shoe height and mounting |
| During work | Keep speed down over light fields; avoid turning with the edge down over fixtures |
| After work | Look at lights for damage, displacement or cracked lenses, and report them |
| After a strike | Stop, inspect the edge and the light, and record location and time |
Height-setting notes
Height is the setting that decides whether an edge protects the lights or strikes them.
- Use the setting in your airport procedure or the plow maker’s guidance, and write it on the pre-trip card.
- Check shoe wear, since worn shoes change the height of the edge.
- Check by a slow test pass where it is safe to do so, and with an observer.
Strike log
| Date | Location | Edge type | Light damage | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Limits
The AC is a specification for certain funded purchases, and the text may have changed. I give no height setting.
Boundary: The AC is a specification for certain federally funded purchases, its text may have changed (an errata sheet was not read) and no height setting is given; follow your airport’s procedures and the lighting maker’s guidance.
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) ↗Airport Snow Removal Equipment Components: What Wears Out in a Season ↗MB3 vs MB5 Airport Snow Removal Equipment: Differences and Use Cases ↗Carbide snow plow blades ↗Equipment Capacity Is Growing: How Airports Should Read an OEM Capacity Announcement ↗One Plow, One Broom: Spare-Edge Strategy for a Small General-Aviation Airport ↗Carbide Fragments on Movement Areas: FOD Inspection After an Edge Failure ↗
