HAL ultimately need to bite the bullet, copy the rest of European airfields that are snow laden and create de-ice pads. The provider of services should be HAL/Airline owned de-ice companies. All departure sequenced via GMC/CFMU and the airline to prioritise, based on flow/crew hours restrictions. From time to time an hour or so delay will be experienced for start up, but snow and aviation do not mix so it is to be expected. In 2013 it is a lack of balls to stand up to accountants that costs airlines/airports/UK plc so much each time this happens. In very very cold and heavy snow, I have been stuck in FRA and BRU. That is twice in over 10 years in the job. 48 hours of snow of disruption. Those really were freak nights and the UK would have closed shop hours before hand. The number of cans flights ex LHR is beyond counting. Yes flights will get canx for a number of reasons during these conditions, but in 2013 we CAN do a lot better. Went to be xmas markets and was in DUS waiting 1 hour 30 mins for start up in December. It was throwing it down with snow. We still departed. No canx. You can wait for ever (hopefully not) at the gate when remote deicing is used. The pads are right by the runway, so 'hold over' times rarely expire. It really is the way forward. Yes I know it is starting to be used at LHR, but too little IMO. Come on HAL, less money on shopping malls, more on tarmac and equipment.