East Midlands Airport has unveiled the winning names for its new £2.5 million fleet of snowploughs following a public competition that attracted more than 600 entries.
The competition, launched last year after the airport invested in seven new winter service vehicles, invited members of the public and airport staff to come up with weather-themed names for the machines that keep the runway operational during snow and ice.
The winning public entries were Scoopy-Doo, Clearapathra and Snowbin Hood for three of the snowploughs, and Edward Blizzard Hands for the fleet’s new snow cutter-blower. The remaining vehicles were named by airport employees or their children, who chose Snow Be Gone Kenobi, Plowasaurus Rex and SnowMAGeddon – the latter incorporating part of the airport’s parent company name.
Winners were invited to visit East Midlands Airport to see the vehicles with their new liveries, meet the crews who operate them and climb aboard the equipment. They also received certificates, gift vouchers and family tickets to the Lanterns of the Wild attraction at Twycross Zoo.
The £2.5 million fleet forms part of a wider £120 million improvement programme currently under way at the airport. It includes six Schmidt Compact Jet Sweeper snowploughs which, when operating together, can clear 130,000 square metres of runway – the equivalent of the entire asphalt surface – in 24 minutes. A snow cutter-blower capable of moving up to 5,000 tonnes of snow per hour has also been added.
As with the rest of the airport’s ground fleet, the new winter vehicles run on vegetable oil-based biodiesel, which the airport says can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent. The move forms part of East Midlands Airport’s commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2038.
Lauren Turner, Operations Director at East Midlands Airport, said the response to the competition had been overwhelming. She said judges had been “blown away” by the volume and creativity of suggestions, adding that while the competition had been light-hearted, the new fleet plays a vital operational role.
She said the ability to clear snow and ice quickly and effectively is essential for the safe running of the airport during winter conditions and helps minimise disruption to flights.
The public winners were:
Brandon Fell, 15, of Hucknall – Edward Blizzard Hands
Marliyah Simon, six, of Shepshed – Scoopy-Doo
Xander Batley, six, of Clifton – Snowbin Hood
Isla Woolley, nine, of Derby – Clearapathra
The staff winners were:
Lee Bowyer, EMA Fire Station – SnowMAGeddon
Lucy Hadfield, EMA Motor Transport – Snow Be Gone Kenobi
Ashley Noble, EMA Airfield Operations – Plowasaurus Rex
The newly named fleet is now in service, ready to be deployed during periods of snow and freezing weather to help keep flights operating safely throughout the winter season.
