Winter Safety and Preparedness

Is It Safe To Land A Plane In Snowy Weather? We Asked An Expert

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When winter weather strikes, travelers can wonder: Is it safe for planes to land in the snow? Recent aviation accidents, like a Delta plane's close-call crash in Toronto, have compounded that worry for many. We spoke to an aviation expert who walked us through the strict safety protocols, advanced planning, and real-time weather monitoring that happen behind the scenes to allow plans to land safely in snow.

Ravi Vanmali, Head of Aviation at The Weather Company, emphasizes that safety is always the top priority. "It really is all about following protocol, having redundant safety mechanisms and procedures, and always, always operating in a manner that is safe," he explains.

Airports take significant steps to ensure safe landings, including plowing runways and treating them with de-icing fluids. "We can't prevent (these storms), but we certainly can prepare for them," Vanmali adds. "A lot of sequencing, a lot of planning, a lot of coordination—it really is all about making sure that it's running like a well-oiled machine." In very cold climates, some runways are even made of snow and ice by design.

(MORE: Flying In Winter? Here's What You Should Know)

To that point, one of the biggest factors when flying in snowy weather isn’t the snow itself, but ice. "The main impact that you see from winter weather operations is the fact that the airlines have to start de-icing aircraft," Vanmali says. De-icing serves a critical purpose, preventing snow and ice from building up on aerodynamic surfaces, which can affect the flying characteristics of an aircraft.

Snowy conditions also impact how air traffic control manages takeoffs and landings. "One of the things that you might see is added separation in between aircraft as they take off and land," Vanmali notes. "Think of yourself driving in a car—you know you're gonna probably slow down when it's raining, you're gonna slow down when it's snowing. It's the same concept for aviation."

(MORE: What Weather Causes The Most Airline Delays?)

More than three-quarters of aviation delays are caused by weather, making accurate forecasting essential. Airports and airlines use real-time updates, including those from The Weather Company, to adjust flight schedules and prepare for storms. "Preparedness is really the name of the game here, and preparedness only happens with good, accurate, reliable information," Vanmali says.

So while snow may cause delays, aviation experts assure travelers that landing in it remains safe, thanks to careful preparation, advanced technology, and a commitment to safety that guides every flight.

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