(ECNS) --Beijing Capital International Airport, which was paralyzed by a rare November snowstorm last weekend, has been questioned for its ability to handle weather emergencies.
The early-season snow caused hundreds of flight delays and cancellations, and the airport even closed its doors to inbound flights on Sunday, the Beijing News said.
Icy runways are one of the main reasons airports have to close in snowy weather, a senior captain told the newspaper, adding that it takes 40 minutes to clean a runway under usual conditions.
Besides snow clearance, whether they be inbound or outbound flights, all the planes need to de-ice, as removal of ice or frost from the surface of aircraft is crucial to preventing accidents, according to the captain.
Aviation insiders said a 737-800 plane needs 10 minutes to de-ice in a normal amount of snowfall. Despite the heavy snowfall during the weekend, "I think the limited space and equipment failed to meet demand."
A plane is de-iced at the airport. (Photo/the Beijing News)
An aviation official agreed. Less than 20 aircraft, only one fourth of outbound flights on a busy morning, can be de-iced each hour, causing flight delays, he said.
Improper procedures also impaired efficiency, as the airport's automated decision system became dysfunctional in the mess, according to the official. Some planes which had been de-iced were put on a waiting list for departure.
A notice by the airport said it had deployed more than 200 staff and 100 runway sweepers, as well as nearly a thousand and 43 de-icing vehicles to remove ice from aircraft. It was reopened on Monday morning.
