Press Release

Issued by London Biggin Hill Airport Ltd.

December 16, 2011

New equipment for dealing with winter snow falls was tested and checked out this week at Biggin Hill Airport in preparation for traditional winter weather.

Barry Sargeant, the Manager responsible for ground operations at the airport, lined up the Bunce snow ploughs, Sickard runway sweepers and a Volvo Rolba snow blower in the December sunshine after routine checks were complete.

"The Volvo Rolba snow blower is a strong and effective tool for consuming large quantities of snow through its portal and ejecting it clear of the runway and taxiways – and we now have three of them with immediate availability" says Barry Sargeant.

Depending on the amount of snow, each item of equipment can be used either individually or in combination to ensure that it is cleared from operational areas quickly and efficiently.

In January this year, a dedicated operations team worked through the night on several occasions to maintain the integrity of airport operations. For a 2-day period early during the month, Biggin Hill provided the only London runway available for global business aviation - other than Heathrow - by remaining one step ahead of the harshest winter weather for many years.

"The airport has invested in more equipment for this year. As and when the snow arrives, we shall be ready and our aim will be to keep our operational areas consistently open and safe for our home-based fleet and for business visitors to London" says Barry Sargeant.