The operations team at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, along with other airports across New York state, are implementing strict safety protocols to prepare for potential incoming high winds.

"We’re monitoring at all times. Because any minute something could happen. So with the forecast coming in with the high winds, we just keep a monitor on it all times," said Sean Cleary, operations manager, Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. "We just really make sure that all of our ground equipment is secured, wheels are chalked, parking brakes are on, obviously. You know we don’t want any of those big bag carts or tugs flying around out there during the windstorms."

Cleary says the team also makes sure the grounds are clear of debris, jet bridges are secure and runways are clear of snow drifts.

"Well, we always prepare for the worst conditions," said Airport Director Andy Moore.

Moore says his team communicates regularly with the airlines and closely monitors the weather and conditions of the airfield.

"So very rarely do we get a 60-mile-per-hour wind. But we do have a cross-wind runway, so if a wind is coming in one direction, we’ve got the capability of having that plane fly into the wind which is typically what they like to do. So we have a north/south runway and an east/west runway to allow aircraft to come in from any direction that they want based on what their policies and procedures are in the safest approach to an airport," said Moore.

Moore says it’s a team effort on the ground at the airport and airports across the state.

"We’ve got a very strong New York State Airports Association NYAMA, New York State Aviation Management Association, so we’re constantly communicating with each other, giving ideas, what’s going on at your airport, what are you seeing, how are you handling certain situations? We also help each other if we need assistance at different airports depending on weather conditions or depending on the impact of weather like in Buffalo last year during Christmas, and things like that. It’s a very tight and close association all working in the best interest of aviation across New York State," said Moore. "We’ve got a great working relationship with air traffic control, with the airlines, with our Airfield Operations teams to make sure the airport is as safe as possible. And that’s the most important thing we do here. Safety and security is the most important part of running an airport."

If the winds are too strong, it’s not the airports that decide to delay or cancel a flight. It’s determined by the individual airline and ultimately the commanding pilot.