Report on the January 1999
Detroit Snowstorm

Submitted to the Honorable John D. Dingell
United States House of Representatives

by

The Secretary of the Department of Transportation

June 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I: THE JANUARY 2 DETROIT SNOWSTORM AND ITS AFTERMATH

Wayne County Detroit Metropolitan Airport and NWA
NWA’s Operations Planning
Friday, January 1
Saturday, January 2
Sunday, January 3

PART II: FINDINGS

NWA’s Arrival and Departure Planning
NWA’s Assessment of its Preparations for Sunday’s Operations
Snow Removal
Aircraft Positioning
Sunday Ground and Flight Crew Staffing Levels
NWA’s Treatment of Passengers Stranded on Its Aircraft

PART III: REMEDIAL MEASURES

APPENDICES

• APPENDIX A - MAP OF WAYNE COUNTY DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT
• APPENDIX B - AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF WAYNE COUNTY DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT TERMINAL AREA
• APPENDIX C - PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALLEY BETWEEN NWA TERMINAL PIERS E & F
• APPENDIX D - SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWING THE ALLEYS BETWEEN NWA PIERS C & D AND D & E ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 3
• APPENDIX E - GRAPH DEPICTING NWA ARRIVAL GROUND DELAYS ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 3
• APPENDIX F - INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED

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Briefing Room