No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle; Ground Incursion Runway; Ground Incursion Taxiway
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
Snow removal operations during active snow storm. Vehicles involved were Snow plow 1 and company (2 snow plows) and Airport 2. There were multiple instances when these vehicle operators were approved onto control surfaces; runways and or taxiways; for snow removal and they went onto different runways and/or taxiways without prior approval. For instance; Airport 2 called for clearance A-D taxiways and was approved. Later the vehicle was observed on Runway 30 midfield on the intersections of Runway 30 and Runway 21R; needing to cross Runway 21L to get there. He had not been approved on Runway 30. Another instance involved Snowplow 1 who was approved and operating on Runway 21R; they were observed on Runway 30 across Runway 21L approximately 1;000 feet down the Runway 30 from Runway 21R and called to exit Runway 30 onto Taxiway A. They were not approved onto Runway 30 just to cross it on Runway 21R. There were also multiple instances where Airport 2 followed along with Snowplow 1 without being a part of their group and without authorization. The vehicles were not consistently reporting off runways and were using large portions of taxiways at intersections without approval. Recommendation: remedial training for airport vehicle operators.
PSC Controller described multiple runway incursion events involving snow removal operations noting the vehicle operators are in need of additional training.