PEORIA, Ill. — The Airport Authority discussed new options for updated snow brooms to use at Peoria airports during the winter months.
Gene Olson, Director of Airports, said the snow brooms are large trucks with a rotating broom.
“The vehicle has two engines, both about 400 horse power. One of them is to drive the vehicle, the other one is to operate the broom, and snow of them have a blower on them too,” Olson said.
The airports use the snow brooms more than plows.
“We use those on the runways because they get down to clean pavement a lot better than a plow does,” Olson said. “A plow always leaves a little bit. Sometimes if the brooms push too much snow, it’ll bog them down, so we’ll bring a plow in to blast that ridge back.”
There are two options on the table for the next vehicle. One option is a vehicle from 2017 that will take approximately 180 days to arrive. The model was used for demonstrations.
The other option is a new model that will take 300 days to arrive.
“If we give them the order tomorrow, 300 days is like right in the middle of our snow season and we won’t have time to play with it before the snow hits,” Olson said. “Where is if we get this other vehicle, then we’ll get that ahead of the snow season.”
Olson said it is beneficial to have the equipment before snow is in the area so operators can familiarize themselves with it.
The decision between which vehicle that can be decided on depends on federal funding and if the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) determines the older demo model eligible.
“Our big question is whether we can use federal funding on it or not. If we can, we’ll probably go with the three year old one. If we can’t then we’ll have to opt for the new one,” Olson said.
The cost for the newer model is $692,292, while the demo model is $632,300.
It is required under federal regulations that the airports have snow removal equipment.
“We’re buying this piece of equipment using passenger facility charge dollars to meet our requirements to FAA,” Olson said.
