Airport Vehicle Operation: Safety Training

Introduction and Objective

• The FAA advises that the airport operator is responsible for vehicle operations on an airport
• The City of Phoenix Aviation Department has to comply with CFR Part 139
• As an FAA certificate holder, The City of Phoenix Aviation Department must implement safety training under CFR Part 139.329
• No one can enter the runway and taxiway safety areas without certification or an escort, per City of Phoenix Code §4-49 and Airport Rules and Regulations
• Complete classroom work, pass a written test, and a day/night vehicle check-ride to get Movement Area Certification
• Reference maps in the appendix for airport layout familiarization
• Prevent "incursions" and "incidents" by enabling employees to operate safely in movement areas
• Airport operator responsibility includes ensuring personnel operating vehicles in aircraft movement areas have necessary knowledge
• Required knowledge areas include:
  • Vehicle operation rules & guidelines
  • Authorized driving areas
  • Airfield movement & non-movement area boundaries
  • Airport layout inc. runway & taxiway designations
  • Understanding airfield signs, markings, and lighting
  • Radio communication skills, including phraseology & phonetic alphabet
  • Knowledge of light gun signals
  • Runway traffic patterns and leg locations
  • Vehicle equipment needs
  • Safe driving practices
  • Escort rules
• The certification process involves written tests, day/night rides, and check rides
• An orange SIDA badge can be earned with movement area certification
• A perfect test score (100%) is needed to pass the certification checkride

Incursions

• Runway incursions are of the FAA's highest priorities
• Incursions may risk lives because of how close aircraft operate together on airport grounds
• The aviation community deals with incursions that are caused by human error
• The most critical operation is crossing active runways and taxiways
• A runway incursion involves "Any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard"
• The FAA classifies incursions by severity (Categories A, B, C, D) and type as operational incidents, pilot deviations, and vehicle/pedestrian deviations
• Four main causes of runway incursions are:
  • Not having proper clearances
  • Poor communication
  • Lacking situational awareness
  • Lacking navigation skills or airport awareness
• A surface incident happens when unauthorized movement occurs in movement areas which potentially impedes on safety of flight
• Surface incidents come from pilot, vehicle/pedestrian or operational errors/deviations
• Runway incursions happen on runways, surface incidents can happen on runways or taxiways
• Vehicle/pedestrian deviations (V/PD) happen when unauthorized vehicles enter the movement area
• V/PDs may jeopardize controllers and other vehicles on the airfield
• Reducing V/PDs comes down to authorized operators being properly trained and informed

Vehicles

• Vehicles in movement areas should be limited to those needed for movement area inspections and maintenance, or emergency situations
• Requirements for operating vehicles in aircraft movement areas:
  • Speedometer, mirrors, headlights, and taillights must be functional
  • Amber rotating or flashing beacon (or green flashing lights for operations vehicles, red/blue for emergency vehicles)
  • Two-way radio to access airport frequencies, or be escorted by a radio-equipped vehicle
• Speed limits must be obeyed; taxiway speed limit is 30 mph unless responding to emergencies
• Driving recklessly is prohibited
• contacting ATCT ground controllers when entering/leaving the movement area is required, Oscar 30's per Letter of Agreement are exempt
• Constant contact with the ATCT needs to be maintained
• Vehicle operators have to monitor radio frequencies, get permission, and receive clearance before driving on active movement areas
• Exercise extra caution while around aircraft to stay clear of danger zones like propellers
• An operating amber rotating or flashing beacon has to be on
• Activating headlamps and brake lights
• Exercise extra caution because of the cockpit blind spots of aircraft
• AIRCRAFT ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY
• Emergency and operations vehicles responding to emergencies have right-of-way

Escort Procedures

• Escorted persons should be aware of destination & directions
• Provide destination information & expectations before beginning escort
• Pre-escort briefing includes:
  • What hand signals to use
  • Stop when the escort vehicle stops
  • Follow closely, at 50' or less
  • Speed to be followed
  • Headlights and flashers must stay "ON"
  • Personnel must stay alert to aircraft
  • Advise that wait times may occur for safety area clearance
• Contact Airside Operations Supervisor (Oscar 30 )when starting/conducting escorts. Contact Oscar 30 for special requests/non-routine escorts

Enforcement

• The Airside Section of the Airport Operations Division enforces airfield rules involving vehicles, driving, and safety
• Violations may mean a NOVs, training, suspensions, or revoking movement area driving permission, depending on the infraction's seriousness

Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT)

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has an operating control tower
• Air traffic control promotes the safe traffic of aircraft with the FAA
• The ATCT stands at the east end of Terminal 3
• ATCT personnel handle traffic on taxiways, runways, and nearby airspace through two positions:
  • Ground handles traffic on taxiways and gate/parking areas
  • Tower handles traffic on runways and within 5 miles
• Duties are split to North and South sectors with controllers for both
• Controllers communicate instructions to aircraft and surface vehicles using radio frequencies
• Common frequencies in use at Sky Harbor:
  • North Tower: Runway 8/26 118.70
  • South Tower: Runway 7L/25R and 7R/25L (inc. Taxiway Foxtrot) 120.90
  • North Ground: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and North half of Tango, Sierra, and Romeo 119.75
  • North Ground Departure: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie 133.70
  • South Ground: Delta, Echo, Hotel, and South half of Tango, Sierra, and Romeo 132.55
  • Clearance Delivery 124.10
  • ATIS 127.575
  • DEF (Discreet Emergency Frequency) 134.85
• Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS): prerecorded message with weather, visibility, NOTAMs, and radio frequencies
• Listen for the latest airfield information before contacting ATCT

Controlled vs Uncontrolled

• The Airfield is divided into controlled movement areas and uncontrolled non-movement areas
• Movement areas need approval from the ATCT before operating aircraft
• Runways and taxiways, including safety areas, are controlled areas
• Crossing active runways and taxiways is the most critical operation
• Coordination with supervisor, Oscar 30, and the Air Traffic Controller for work in the movement area is required, without exception
• Non-movement areas include aprons and parking areas, including vehicle roadways
• Tower permission or clearance is not needed when moving in non-movement areas
• Even in non-movement areas, AIRCRAFT ALWAYS HAVE RIGHT OF WAY

Runways

• A runway refers to a rectangular surface on an airport that is designated for aircraft landing and take-off
• Standard runways for air carriers are 150 feet wide
• Runways have specific number markings at each end
• White centerlines and edge stripes
• It is very important to remember: it is to be used by aircraft
• Never drive there unless authorized to
• Sky Harbor runway dimensions:
  • Runway 8/26: 11,489' x 150'
  • Runway 7L/25R: 10,300' x 150'
  • Runway 7R/25L: 7,800' x 150'

Runway Lighting

• Runways have white edge lighting to show runway edges at night or low visibility situations
• The last 2,000 feet of runway has amber/white bi-directional lights
• Bi-directional threshold lights at each runway threshold: Red toward runway, green outward
• Lights can be elevated or in-pavement
• High Speed Lead-Off Lights or Acute Angle Taxiway Lead Off Lights extend from the centerline of a runway to an exit taxiway to allow aircraft to exit the runway more quickly
• These lights alternate between yellow and green from the hold position or ILS critical area

Runway End Identifier Lights

• Identifies the end of a specific runway that an aircraft will be landing on
• Two lights synchronize, providing identification of the approach end
• Presently installed at the approach end of Runway 26

Runway Guard Lights

• Installed at most taxiway intersections that access runways
• The lights improve on runway boundaries
• The lights have alternating flashing yellow lights to indicate a presence of a runway and show where the runway marking stands

Elevated Runway Guard Lights

• They are placed at the runway hold lines to warn other vehicles
• Fixtures come with two yellow lamps that flash alternatively, aiding in the identification of runway boundaries

In-pavement Runway Guard Lights

• It is a unidirectional in-pavement fixture with a yellow lamp

Runway Status Lights

• It is a system providing information to pilots and surface operators
• They indicate when it is unsafe to enter or cross the runway
• The system uses information from surveillance and implements the use of Runway Entrance Lights and Takeoff Hold Lights based on the movement of traffic
• The entrance and hold lights are visible for pilots and surface vehicles
• It is considered an independent safety enhancement that should not take the place of the traffic controllers

Takeoff Hold Lights

• It is a system with components placed in-pavement, having double longitudinal rows along the runway centerline
• Fixtures point at the arrival end at the "line up and wait" point, covering 1,500 feet with red lights to signal unsafe takeoff due to occupancy
• The lights are lit up by two aircraft, one ready to take off and another crossing the runway

Runway Entrance Lights

• Composed of unidirectional fixtures that are parallel and focused along the taxiway centerline and facing the operator at the hold line
• Lights include one at the hold line and a series of evenly placed lights at the runway edge with one at the runway centerline
• When activated, indicates there is high speed traffic on the runway or there is an aircraft on the final approach

Runway Signs and Markings

• The “HOLD BAR” consists of a set of parallel yellow lines, including two solid and two dashed lines used to signal a hold point
• They occur across each taxiway
• Tower permission is not needed to cross the dashed line on the runway side
• Tower permission is needed to cross the solid line on the taxiway side
• Runway Hold Position Signs state the runway and its direction
• Only red signs with white text or numbers are used for a runway entrance
• When signs are found, it means an approach of the protected area near the runway and requires permission from the Tower
• The sign numbers correlate to the runway threshold
• For example, "8-26" shows Runway 8's threshold to the left and Runway 26's threshold to the right
• Painted white numbers on red backgrounds contrasted in black that are located on the Taxiway Side of a "hold bar" area before crossing a runway
• The runway is oriented with a compass of 80° to the east with RUNWAY 8 to the left
• Compass of 260° facing west of RUNWAY 26 are to the right
• Stop, if you do not have permission by the Air Traffic Controller

Position Marking

• Marks the entry point into a protected area
• Same rule as hold position sign
• Must get Tower permission from the Tower
• The runway side of the hold position marker is under tower frequency control
• The controller of the Ground frequency has control of the taxiway side, with an exception to taxiway Foxtrot, that is under the control of South Tower Control Frequency
• It is very important to remember: crossing the hold marking onto the taxiway is considered "clear" from both the runway side and the safety area

Distance To Go Marker

• Have a black background and are numerically inscribed
• Installed on one side of the runway
• Gives the pilot information of the remaining distance
• Numbers signs indicate the increments of distance for the landing runway
• “6” represents 6,000 ft. to reaching that end of that runway

Enhanced Markings

• Changes to standards of taxiway centerlines
• The centerlines will let pilots know they are closing in on the holding position
• The markings make use of dashed lines on taxiway centerlines
• Bar’s extend 25 feet off the edge of the taxiway line or the pavements end that approaches the environmental runway

Runway Markings

• Pavment Markings on a runway are white
• Yellow lead lines originate from the centerline of the runway into the hold position bars of a runway
• Runway stripes and markings are white
• Runway edgeline is a 3ft white stripe touching the side of the outside of runway
• Centerlines are 3ft wide measuring 120 ft and spread apart 80 ft from each marking in a runway
• Runway thresholds are all labeled as required for instrumentation runways
• Runway aiming points are measured at two 30 x 150 ft markings touching 1000 ft from each runway
• Runway touchdown zone markers are for precision instrument runways
• Precision, Instrumentation, Lasing supports approaches
• Precision runways contain all markings seen for the nonprecision ones, as well as touchdown zone markings
• The markings appear at 500-foot increments, beginning 500 feet from the threshold

Relocated and Displaced Thresholds

• Relocated Thresholds happen because construction or maintenance moves the threshold end of a runway for the operation
• All runway segments are then closed for both approach and length for the opposing direction
• Pilots will know about relocated runway by information provided by the NOTAM
• Displaced Thresholds also occur at a particular point of an runway with displacement and reduce landing
• All take offs are not affected by the threshold in either direction
• The displaced portion is marked by a 10’ bar or line with white arrows to show the displacement

Safety Areas

• Safety area is a certain surface used to reduce hazards to reduce damage
• Areas are cleared and have graded, hazardous ruts. They also have humps, depressions, and surface variations while drained by storm
• Safety areas are able to be capable, without harming aircraft in dry conditions
• Safety zones are able to be used with objects needed in those zones
• Runways have 500 feet wide safety areas
• Taxiways have 200 foot wide safety areas
• Runways need to be capable with 1000 feet beyond each end. They need to be graded and drained
• Communicate work details to your supervisor and the Traffic Control

Runway Closure and Runway Opening

• The on-duty Aviation Supervisor II (Oscar 30) can open or close a runway or delegate only during special events
• Closures occur for inspections, such as lights/pavement/markings/ILS
• Also, closures occur for debris, runway pavement damages, excessive tire buildup, FOD, etc
• Also, for pedestrians animals, unapproved vehicles, weather, or construction
• If a crash occurs or an emergency is declared that affects a runway it will also close
• Close for scheduled maintenance in accordance with a NOTAM
• During Runway Closures:
  • Contact ATCT on recorded line
  • Confirm time, nature, and location of units used
  • Supervise all units are clear on the runway.
  • Coordinate areas of movement with confirmation from NOTAM.
  • Establish aircraft points with the tower.
  • Aviation supervisor is set to document maintanance.
  • Confirm if the controller is clear to document the exact time.
  • Visual confirmation should be used if the activity is used during the night.
  • Aviation Supervisor set request from Comm Center is assigned runway and establishes aircraft crossing marks Broadcast all calls to city units.
• Upon Runway Openings:
  • The Aviation Supervisor II (Oscar 30) is to test for closed runways prior to testing
  • Check each unit or operations individual to make sure the runways work
  • The ATCT Controller needs be enabled if the runway is on.
  • The Aviation Supervisor II will call the communications center to request all calls for 5 mins.
  • The dispatcher to is declare the all of calls in coordination with the 30's details regarding times and testing if the runways work. Call the controller once testing is complete.

Taxiways

• Taxiway definition: A set movement area meant to allow aircraft on airport surfaces, transitioning to Aprons and vice versa
• Taxiway width normally ranges to 75 feet
• Taxiway Alpha measures 50 feet in width.
• Widths of safety areas measure 200 feet overall. (Figure 4)

Taxiway and Signage

• During severe weathers, taxiways make use of lights to indicate edge
• Edge systems are usually blue and able to cover blue lenses. The Yellow cover measures as a Taxiway that is either In-Pavement Lights or elevated
• High turnoff, Centerline measures as Green and able to see at low visibility
• Taxiways measures are in yellow, utilizing a line that allows Taxiing.
• For wingtip , aircraft need to position in the middle so the vehicle avoids disruptions
• Letters and numericals assist in designators
• There are two main edge patterns:
  • Continuous with a yellow double line.
  • and Yellow Taxiways with broken double lines which assists the aircraft near aprons

Taxiway Guidance

• The yellow lettering, directional is for signing
• Black with yellow leering measures at locations
• Guide signs help determine the upcoming letter or direction of travel using directional arrow for depiction
• With bases the direction to exit are displayed when on a location are to be displayed such as hold bays. Ramps, or hangars
• These signs display other Taxiways in coordination with instructions such as the opposite area of a runway

Locations

• Location signs identify the plane and runway that it is using. These types of identification also establish the level of safety or a crucial part of certain areas
• (a.) Taxiway Location Sign showing areas with an plane. The sign has yellow wording in correlation with arrows with yellow outlines. Has a yellow outline
• (b). The runway safety and zone show the borders of areas and show an illustration at positioning
• III. ILs show position on maps showing levels for entering pilots. Has a description for position. The signs have black lettering and position in yellow background

Considerations

• Always be careful and cautious, even when there is the right of way when moving near plane operations or the pilots that you are working are not checking for you

Operation Considerations and Opening

• This also can be designated to supervisors to authorize taxiways to work . There can certain parameters used to designate areas or times to follow up on
• There should still be inspections for lightning and components when taking into consideration of different taxiways
• Consider any objects that can be an hazard
• If situations are of concern the affected taxiways shall be shown
• When doing procedures follow steps for each step
• Supervisor (Oscar 30) to have contact with units
• Confirm at Time and area nature
• Keep units clear .
• Let supervisors proceed . Contact atCT with record numbers
• Coordinate NOTAM or missions with proper boundaries,
  • Show each aircraft path for documentation
• After at night check lights after operations .
• Supervisor (Oscar 30 should send operation to coordinate and show all taxi crews to work . And keep areas cleared or any type of constructions for aircraft and lights with delineation.

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

• The ILS is a radio driven navigation system that give both vertical and horizon guidance prior to landing
• The system indicates direction the the planes for the landing
• The system has two Local and glide scope Antenna

Antenna Usage

• The local, in correspondence Is the core aspect with guidance and 1,000ft to the departure end
• Signals help build and have horizon positions when in contact with runway
• With Glideslope Antenna's helps vertical paths during approach
• It gives positions and stabilizes speed from time to landing
• Areas can be crucial and kept clear of aircraft during position

Important Positions and Posts

• The LS post sign helps a background of border aircraft with signs on its side. Also to provide that microwave signals that affect them
• Positions can shift and change if it is required

Obstacle Free Zone

• They are a safety of zones for vehicles in need of positions under weather
• POZ can affect with guided approaches
• There should be position holding when areas are shown to have weather. When normal under position for effects weather is normal