Delta 1234, cancel approach clearance. Fly the localizer, climb and maintain 3,000,” came the hurried command from DFW approach control. “We’ve just been told that Runway 35L has failed the friction test, and braking action is unsuitable.”
DFW’s seven runways, all covered in ice, were unusable. It was that kind of day on January 31 all over North Texas. I woke up to the backyard picture below, ice covering everything. I had already canceled my trip in the Mustang to Nashville, TN (KMQY), for a Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) board meeting. Based at Addison (KADS), my airplane would be hard-pressed to taxi safely to Runway 34 this morning, much less able to abort a takeoff.
ADS RUNWAY 34 FICON 1/1/1 (Braking: Poor/Poor/Poor) 50 PCT ICE PLOWED 50FT WID AND DEICED SOLID 50 FT WID OBS AT 2301311300
But others came from all over the U.S. to attend the CJP meeting. I purchased a refundable reservation on American Airlines. At 6 a.m., however, the roads to DFW airport were virtually impassable, with a half inch of fresh ice and a temperature of 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Although my flight still showed an on-time departure, I couldn’t imagine it would get off on time or even depart at all.
I set up shop on my stationary bicycle with two iPads and a cellphone to record the storm’s effect on air travel. The ATC Live feed from Dallas Love field was my first stop. The airport’s ground services kept one runway open overnight, but by 9 a.m., a new round of frozen precipitation was entering the metroplex.
Seven Southwest 737s were ordered to return to the gate as Love was closed for runway clearing. But the airport’s resources were no match for the sheets of ice raining from the sky. “Ground, Execjet 1234 would like to reposition from Atlantic to Signature.” “Negative, the entire airport is shut down pending further notice,” came the response from ground control.
A quick glance at Foreflight showed only four airplanes in holding patterns headed for Love. Most had delayed their departures to wait out the storm.
But the story at DFW was much worse.
One of the busiest airports in the country, DFW runs 24/7 in virtually all kinds of weather. And even with relatively few snow and ice storms during a typical year, it has scores of plows and trucks to keep things running.
Mother Nature was having none of that.
In the picture at left you can see what happens when an entire airport shuts down. When landings and takeoffs stopped, the feeder fixes started to fill up with airplanes holding. The ice was coming down so fast the trucks couldn’t keep up. As the poor braking action readings were coming in from the ground vehicles, aircraft were told to go around, even after being cleared to land. The airspace was filled with airliners, some holding directly over the airport.
Something had to give. Within minutes, flights began to divert to Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and elsewhere. Over the next three days, waves of ice hit the metroplex, and several thousand flights were canceled.
As the lady said, “It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.”
Fly safe.
