106 snow plows, tractors and trucks will keep runways clear at Pearson Airport in Mississauga

More than 100 snow plows, tractors, trucks and other pieces of equipment are lined up and ready to clear the runways at Pearson Airport in Mississauga now that winter weather is almost here.

While there are no snowstorms, major or minor, in the immediate weather forecast for Mississauga or the GTA, officials at Pearson say their work crews will be ready when the first winter blast — and subsequent blasts — blow into town.

“With winter weather around the corner, our state-of-the-art snow removal equipment is ready to keep the runways clear so aircraft can land and take off safely during snow events,” Pearson officials said this week via social media.

They add they’re also well prepared for the crucial function of de-icing planes so they remain safe once in the air.

By the numbers, the airport lists the following among its specialized snow removal vehicles and equipment:

• 40 snow plows
• 18 snow tractors
• 15 wheel loaders
• 14 de-icing trucks
• 12 snow blowers
• 7 front-mounted sweepers

(Image: Pearson Airport)

It wasn’t that long ago that Pearson’s ability to keep the runways clear of snow and ice was severely tested.

Mississauga and numerous other areas in the GTA and southern Ontario were hit with a winter storm for the ages on Jan. 17, 2022.

That crippling snowstorm — and a follow-up storm a couple of days later — kept crews at Pearson working round-the-clock for most of the week trying to clear the runways in, at times, blizzard conditions.

Despite best efforts, and simply due to unsafe flying conditions, dozens of flights into and out of Pearson Airport were cancelled within a short period of time.

In total, Pearson and surrounding areas received anywhere from 33 centimetres to upwards of 40cm of snow on Jan. 17, 2022. The airport usually averages 40cm of snow per month.

The 45cm of snow dumped on many parts of Mississauga that day was the most the area has received in a single day since 1944, when the city was known as Toronto Township.

Thanks to all airport staff for your hard work today as we clean up 30+cm of snow from today's storm! It's been all hands on deck tonight to ensure passengers can arrive & depart safely. Thank you everyone working in terminal & on the airfield as we put #safetyfirst! #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/iCp1b8Q1m9

— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) January 18, 2022

Social media post from Pearson Airport on Jan. 17, 2022, the day Pearson and the rest of Mississauga were hit by an historic snowstorm.