Airport Crews Battle Winter Weather to Keep Planes Flying

Plattsburgh International Airport's de-icing operations ramp up as cold, snowy conditions persist.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:22pm

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With freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, airport crews at Plattsburgh International Airport have been working overtime to de-ice and anti-ice planes before takeoff. Reed Atkinson, the general manager at AvFlight Plattsburgh, the fixed base operator at the airport, says this winter has been especially busy, with crews de-icing or using anti-ice fluids on planes at least 2 out of 3 days, sometimes up to 15 times a day. The process uses hundreds of gallons of specialized fluids costing around $25 per gallon, a necessary expense for airlines flying into northern regions like Vermont.

Why it matters

Proper de-icing and anti-icing procedures are critical for aviation safety, as any frozen contamination on a plane can dramatically impact its aerodynamics, decreasing lift and increasing drag. With the continued cold and snowy weather in Vermont, airport crews must remain vigilant to ensure planes can take off and land safely.

The details

Atkinson explains that if frozen contaminants like ice or snow build up on a plane, it "changes those aerodynamics, decreases the lift and increases the drag on the aircraft, makes it just a lot harder to fly in general." To combat this, crews spray planes with deicing fluid to remove any existing buildup, and then apply anti-icing fluids to prevent more from forming while the plane is in the air. This process can use anywhere from dozens to hundreds of gallons of fluid per plane, at a significant cost to the airlines.

  • This winter has kept the Plattsburgh airport crews especially busy with de-icing and anti-icing operations.
  • In January 2026, Atkinson estimates they de-iced or used anti-ice on planes at least 2 out of 3 days, sometimes up to 15 times a day.

The players

Reed Atkinson

The general manager at AvFlight Plattsburgh, the fixed base operator at Plattsburgh International Airport.

AvFlight Plattsburgh

The fixed base operator at Plattsburgh International Airport, responsible for de-icing and anti-icing planes.

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What they’re saying

“If you introduce frozen contamination, such as ice or snow, it kind of changes those aerodynamics, decreases the lift and increases the drag on the aircraft, makes it just a lot harder to fly in general.”

— Reed Atkinson, General Manager, AvFlight Plattsburgh

“We've had a good winter for de-icing. We've had a decent amount more than normal activity...It's been cold, it's been snowy, and we haven't had a lot of breaks.”

— Reed Atkinson, General Manager, AvFlight Plattsburgh

What’s next

As March in Vermont continues to bring cold and snowy weather, airport crews at Plattsburgh International will likely need to remain on high alert for potential de-icing and anti-icing needs to ensure safe flights.

The takeaway

The ongoing battle against winter weather at northern airports like Plattsburgh highlights the critical importance of de-icing and anti-icing procedures for aviation safety, as well as the significant operational costs these measures impose on airlines flying into cold-weather regions.