Mci controller described runway incursion event when airport snow removal vehicles entered a runway ...

Narrative:

Runway 19 left closed for snow removal. Runway 19R open. Weather was low ceilings and visibility 1/2 mile; snow. Tower could not see either runway from the cab. Traffic was very light. Ground control advised that snowplow X had just completed the plowing runway 19L and gave ground control the new mu readings. After snowplow X cleared the runway; runway 19 left was then open. Snowplow X advised he would do a friction test on runway 19 right to determine if that runway needed to be cleared of snow. TRACON was advised of the airfield conditions and that runway 19 left was now reopened. Within the next five minutes; I observed on the amass/asde that there were still snowplows on runway 19 left. I asked ground to clarify that snowplow X did reopen that runway. I then asked snowplow xto call the tower on the land line. Snowplow X reconfirmed that runway 19 left was open; and was very upset that the snowplows went back on that runway. No aircraft were inbound or outbound to that runway. I then informed the flm in the TRACON; that a runway incursion had happened; and that runway 19L was now closed. Recommendation; communication between airport authorities needs to be maintained and ensured.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MCI controller described runway incursion event when airport snow removal vehicles entered a runway after the lead vehicle declared the runway open and available for use.

Narrative: Runway 19 Left closed for snow removal. Runway 19R open. Weather was low ceilings and visibility 1/2 mile; snow. Tower could not see either runway from the cab. Traffic was very light. Ground control advised that Snowplow X had just completed the plowing Runway 19L and gave ground control the new MU readings. After Snowplow X cleared the runway; Runway 19 left was then open. Snowplow X advised he would do a friction test on Runway 19 right to determine if that runway needed to be cleared of snow. TRACON was advised of the airfield conditions and that Runway 19 left was now reopened. Within the next five minutes; I observed on the AMASS/ASDE that there were still snowplows on Runway 19 left. I asked Ground to clarify that Snowplow X did reopen that runway. I then asked Snowplow Xto call the tower on the land line. Snowplow X reconfirmed that runway 19 left was open; and was very upset that the snowplows went back on that runway. No aircraft were inbound or outbound to that runway. I then informed the FLM in the TRACON; that a runway incursion had happened; and that Runway 19L was now closed. Recommendation; communication between airport authorities needs to be maintained and ensured.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	867836
Time
Date	201001
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	MCI.Tower
State Reference	MO
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	No Aircraft
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Ground Incursion Runway

Mci controller described runway incursion event when airport snow removal vehicles entered a runway after the lead vehicle declared the runway open and available for use.