Back

Operate a vehicle airside

URN: PPLAOG19
Business Sectors (Suites): Aviation Operations on the Ground
Developed by: People 1st
Approved on: 2021

Overview

This standard is about operating a vehicle airside, driving safely on the airfield  following airside markings, road signs and driving regulations. This involves being able to inspect the vehicle and prepare it prior to use, as well as manoeuvring the vehicle in a way which maintains the procedures and practices which contribute to the safety of airside traffic and apron operations. This also involves complying with your organisation’s and the airport/airfield’s airside accident, hazard and emergency procedures and relevant legal requirements

This standard is for those working in airports carrying out roles that involve operating a vehicle airside.

When you have completed this standard, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to:
• Operate a vehicle airside

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. Carry a valid airside driving permit (ADP) at all times when operating a vehicle airside in line with your organisation's and the airport/airfield’s procedures and relevant legal requirements
  2. Confirm your ADP is compliant with the vehicle you are operating and area in which you are driving
  3. Inspect and prepare the vehicle prior to use and take the required  action in response to identified faults in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures and relevant legal requirements
  4. Operate the vehicle according to organisational procedures and your training
  5. Communicate with colleagues and Air Traffic Control (ATC) as required when driving airside
  6. Remain spatially aware and situationally aware at all times when driving airside
  7. Wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) according to organisational and airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements when driving airside
  8. Secure vehicle loads safely in line with your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures
  9. Identify and report hazards and risks when operating a vehicle airside, and rectify those which you can within the limits of your remit in line with organisational and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements
  10. Report all airside accidents and emergencies in line with your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements
  11. Respond to airside accidents and emergencies in line with your organisation's procedures
  12. Deploy and operate vehicle emergency equipment (where fitted) in line with your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements 
  13. Complete the required vehicle and / or activity documentation in line with your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. The relevant regulatory, legal and medical requirements for driving a vehicle airside, and your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures as they apply to airside traffic
  2. The types of authorisation and licences required to drive the various vehicles
  3. The potential consequences to yourself and your organisation of non-compliance with regulatory and legal requirements and your organisation’s  and the airport/airfield's procedures for driving a vehicle airside
  4. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's identification and security procedures and relevant legal requirements
  5. The types of airside vehicles and their characteristics which you are operating including height, length, width and handling
  6. The types of personal protective equipment (PPE) , including high visibility, noise protection, and those specific to your job, and the conditions in which you must use them
  7. The relevant organisational, airport/airfield and legislative standards for the operational condition of the vehicle
  8. The types of faults that affect the vehicles operational condition, how to identify them and your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures for reporting and recording them
  9. The importance of following airside safety instructions
  10. The airside areas (roads, manoeuvring areas, stands) in relation to licence categories and the airside road signs, markings and traffic lights, aircraft crossing points, and airport and stand layout
  11. The required speed limits and airside parking regulations, and the importance of adhering to them at all times
  12. The effect that poor weather conditions including snow and ice, high winds, rain/surface water, lightning and heat have on driving airside, and the low visibility notification and operating procedures
  13. The types of aviation hazards when driving airside, including spillages, dangerous goods and livestock, and your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures for responding to them 
  14. How to recognise whether aircraft are moving or about to move if possible 
  15. The types of, sources of and procedures for reporting foreign objects and spillages
  16. Where the emergency cut-off switches, phones and alarms are, where fitted and your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures for operating them
  17. Where to locate the first-aid equipment, where fitted
  18. The types of accidents and emergencies and your organisation's and the airport/airfield's procedures  and relevant legal requirements for responding to them
  19. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements for completing vehicle documentation

Scope/range

Organisational procedures for operating a vehicle airside include those relating to:
a) Driving in a controlled manner in all conditions
b) Parking the vehicle safely in appropriate areas
c) Following airside road signs, markings and traffic lights at all times
d) Showing courtesy to other vehicles on the airfield
e) Giving priority to moving aircraft at all times
f) Maintaining a safe distance between the vehicle and aircraft at all times
g) Ensuring all doors and shutters (where relevant) are closed when you are driving the vehicle
h) Taking the most direct route between places on the airfield whenever possible
i) Reversing the vehicle 
j) Avoiding obstructing other airside workers or operations whenever possible
k) Keeping access free for emergency services at all times

Regulatory and legal requirements for driving a vehicle airside include:
a) National legislation
b) Bye-laws
c) Conditions of use
d) Aerodrome manual
e) Airport operation instructions
f) Airport safety instructions

Poor weather conditions include:
a) Snow and ice
b) High winds
c) Rain/surface water
d) Lightning
e) Heat have

The types of aviation hazards include:
a) From aircraft, ie Jet blast, ingestion, propellers, rotors, downdraft
b) Spillages
c) Dangerous goods
d) Livestock

The types of accidents and emergencies include those involving:
a) Aircraft
b) Vehicles other than aircraft
c) Staff
d) Fire
e) Fuel spillage

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

FOD**
Foreign Object Debris

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

2026

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

GoSkills

Original URN

GSKAOG19

Relevant Occupations

Transport Drivers and Operatives, Transport Operations and Maintenance

SOC Code

8233

Keywords

driving, vehicle, airside, airport