Pushback Zone Heating, International Airport

The Goal

At airports, pushback zones are the areas where tugs manoeuvre aircraft away from stands before they can move under their own power. While runways and taxiways can be cleared by snowploughs, it is nearly impossible to operate such heavy machinery in close proximity to stands.

During heavy snowfall, pushback tugs risk becoming immobilised, creating costly delays and safety hazards. A reliable heating solution was required to keep these zones free from snow and ice, ensuring safe and uninterrupted aircraft movements regardless of weather conditions.

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Our Solution

Through our subsidiary Heatmat, Heatcom Group designed and delivered advanced snow melting systems tailored to airport operations.

• Heating cables manufactured in Denmark were specified to withstand installation within either concrete pads or hot asphalt, depending on site requirements. For asphalt installations, specially engineered cables allow 180°C asphalt to be poured directly on top without damage.
• For larger areas, heating mats were provided on fibreglass or metallic mesh, simplifying installation.
• Supply leads were custom-lengthened to enable direct runs back to power supplies, eliminating connections in hard-to-access areas and reducing maintenance.
• The system wattage output was carefully calculated based on minimum expected temperatures, snow load, and total area to ensure effective and efficient performance.

To maximise safety and efficiency, fully automated control systems with combined moisture and temperature sensors were installed directly in the pushback zones. These sensors ensured the heating activated only when snow or ice was present and powered down as soon as the area was clear, achieving optimal energy efficiency.

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The Result

With Heatmat’s pushback zone heating systems in place, the airport can now guarantee that pushback areas remain free of snow and ice, even under the most severe winter conditions.

Tugs operate without risk of skidding, pilots have clear visual markings when parking aircraft, and costly weather-related delays are minimised.

Pushback-zone-heating-systems-1.pdf