ADR.OPS.B.026 Authorisation of vehicles

EQUIPAGE OF VEHICLES — GENERAL

(a)An updated copy of the movement area chart of sufficient size, including hot spots, as well the visual aids configuration on the aerodrome, and areas to be safeguarded, should be readily available in the driver’s cabin of a vehicle intended to be operated in the manoeuvring area. If a vehicle is not to be operated in the manoeuvring area, the copy of the chart may be customised to provide only relevant information of the area in which the vehicle is to be operated, along with information of the adjacent areas, to improve the situational awareness of the driver.

(b)The aerodrome operator, in coordination with the air traffic services provider and, if applicable, the apron management services provider, if different, should assess in which areas of the aerodrome, except the manoeuvring area, a vehicle needs to be equipped with a radio. The radio with which the vehicle is equipped should allow two-way communication with the air traffic services unit frequency, but also any other unit that the driver of the vehicle may need to establish contact with. Updated information regarding the frequencies of each unit should be readily available in the driver’s cabin, as well as the frequencies that may need to be used at different areas of the aerodrome. Moreover, the call-sign of the vehicle should be available at a prominent place.

LIMITING THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES The aerodrome operator limits vehicular activity to what is necessary, in order to ensure the safety of operations, but also taking into account the need to ensure the proper and smooth functioning of the aerodrome. In this respect, vehicle use may be limited to those vehicles which are necessary to support the ground servicing and handling of aircraft cargo/mail and passengers, aerodrome maintenance and operations, including aerodrome emergency services, aerodrome security services, and State authorities vehicles. Vehicles on the manoeuvring area should be limited to those absolutely necessary, especially on the runway. Vehicles allowed to operate on the runway should include only those necessary for operational activities such as inspections and maintenance, and emergency vehicles. It is strongly advised not to increase runway use by other vehicles such as those involved in ground operations, e.g. aircraft towing, etc. unless there is no alternative route.

GENERAL A vehicle authorisation should be carried/displayed at a prominent place on the vehicle.

GENERAL Depending on the number of vehicles and the complexity of the aerodrome, the use of colour-coded vehicle authorisations is a solution that may be considered, to facilitate the control of the vehicles.

VEHICLE CALL SIGNS The use of similar call signs may lead to call sign confusion, which is one of the factors associated with runway incursions. To avoid call sign confusion, when assigning a call sign to a vehicle, careful consideration needs to be given to the call signs used by aircraft operating at the aerodrome, as well as the call signs of other vehicles. Ways to reduce the possibility of call sign confusion include:

(a)use of unique numbers or identification call signs for each vehicle; and

(b)use of call signs which are appropriate to the function of the vehicle (e.g. ‘Operations’, ‘Fire’). Where more than one vehicle is used in the same function, then a numbering policy may be used, such that the call sign is followed by a number, e.g. ‘Operations 1’. At aerodromes where the number of vehicles and the aircraft traffic is high, before assigning a call sign to a vehicle, it is recommended that the aerodrome operator, apart from the coordination with the air traffic services provider, consults also the other organisations operating vehicles at the aerodrome. As soon as a call sign is assigned to a vehicle, this needs to be known to at least the air traffic services provider.

ESCORTING OF VEHICLES The escorting of a vehicle should only be performed by the aerodrome operator directly or through a contracted organisation. The aerodrome operator should establish procedures for the escorting of vehicles, which as a minimum should contain:

(a)under which minimum visibility conditions escorting of a vehicle may be performed on the manoeuvring area;

(b)communication means and procedures between the escorting and the escorted vehicle(s);

(c)escorting procedures when more than one vehicle is to be escorted; and

(d)procedures for ensuring that drivers of the escorted vehicles comply with the instructions provided by the air traffic services unit. The procedures should be coordinated with the air traffic services unit.

ESCORTING OF VEHICLES

(a)Occasional operation of authorised vehicles without radio, transponder or other means supporting surveillance The aerodrome operator may decide to permit the occasional operation of vehicles, which have been authorised to be operated on the aerodrome but which are not equipped with a radio, in areas where vehicles are required, by ADR.OPS.B.026 (a)(3), to be equipped with a radio allowing two-way communication with the air traffic services or other aerodrome units, if necessary. The same applies with regard to authorised vehicles, which are not equipped with a transponder or other equipment supporting surveillance as foreseen in ADR.OPS.B.026 (a)(4). In this way, occasional unforeseen operational needs that may arise in the context of the operation of the aerodrome may be satisfied, given that such vehicles are not intended to be operated in such areas. However, if such need becomes more frequent, the aerodrome operator may need to consider the equipage of such vehicles with the necessary radio, transponder or other equipment supporting surveillance, considering, amongst others, the benefits that direct communication offers in terms of runway safety, as well as the fact that vehicle surveillance data facilitates the situational awareness of the air traffic services personnel.

(b)Temporarily permitting vehicle operation Vehicles used on the movement area and other operational areas of the aerodrome need to be authorised as per ADR.OPS.B.026 (a). Vehicles may be authorised only if they are used in activities related to the operation of the aerodrome. However, from time to time, and for various reasons, it may be necessary to allow a vehicle to enter the aerodrome area and to be operated on the movement area or other operational areas, for a limited period of time (e.g. transportation of supplies, maintenance activities, transportation of patients, etc.). In such cases, the aerodrome operator may issue a temporary permit for the entry of the vehicle into the aerodrome and its operation in the area necessary. In such situations, a visual inspection of the vehicle is necessary, for obvious damages or malfunctions of the vehicle (e.g. leakages, braking system, condition of tyres, lights, etc.) to determine the serviceability of the vehicle.

(c)Characteristics of escorting vehicles A vehicle mentioned in points (a) or (b) above, needs to be escorted by a vehicle equipped with a radio, in accordance with ADR.OPS.B.026 (e)(1)(i) or ADR.OPS.B.026 (e)(2)(b), if it is to be operated:

(1)on the manoeuvring area; or

(2)in other areas where vehicles are required to be equipped with a radio (see also point (b) of AMC1 ADR.OPS.B.026(a)(1);(3)). In addition, If the escorted vehicle is to be operated on the manoeuvring area, the escorting vehicle would also need to be fitted with a transponder or other equipment supporting surveillance, if so required for the operation of the SMGCS of the aerodrome (see ADR.OPS.B.026(a)(4)). Moreover, the escorting vehicle needs to meet at all times the respective marking and lighting requirements for the area(s) where the escorted vehicle will be operating (see ADR.OPS.B.080).

(d)Operational considerations If the vehicle(s) mentioned in points (a) and (b) above is (are) intended to be operated on the manoeuvring area, care is taken to ensure that this is done in compliance with ADR.OPS.B.026 (e)(1)(iii) or ADR.OPS.B.026 (e)(2)(c), as the case may be, as well as the relevant procedures. Particular attention needs to be paid to the cases where two or more vehicles are temporarily entering the aerodrome, and especially the manoeuvring area, forming a convoy. In such cases, the escorting vehicles are in positions that allow the monitoring of all escorted vehicles at all times, to ensure that all vehicles comply with the instructions of the air traffic services unit. In addition, attention is necessary to the way and means that the communication between the escorting and the escorted vehicle will be taking place. In any case, temporarily permitting the use of the vehicle in accordance with ADR.OPS.B.026 (e)(2), or permitting the operation of an already authorised vehicle in accordance with ADR.OPS.B.026 (e)(1) does not waive the obligation of the aerodrome operator to ensure that the driver of the vehicle holds a permit to temporarily drive into the aerodrome area, or a driving authorisation as the case may be, in accordance with ADR.OPS.B.024.

PROCEDURES FOR ISSUANCE OF VEHICLE AUTHORISATIONS, TEMPORARILY PERMITTING THE OPERATION OF VEHICLES, ASSIGNING CALL SIGNS AND RELEVANT MONITORING ACTIVITIES

(a)The procedures should clearly identify responsibilities for:

(1)issuing vehicle authorisations, temporarily permitting the operation of a vehicle and assigning call signs to vehicles;

(2)ensuring that the prerequisites for maintaining a vehicle authorisation valid continue to be met; and

(3)monitoring the compliance of vehicles with the relevant requirements, and taking of appropriate action depending on the case. Such actions should include the possibility of suspension and revocation of a vehicle authorisation or a permission for the temporary operation of a vehicle.

(b)Issuing vehicle authorisations, temporarily permitting the operation of vehicles and ensuring that the prerequisites for maintaining a vehicle authorisation valid should be a controlled activity.

(c)Irrespective of the organisational set-up chosen to monitor the compliance of vehicles with the applicable requirements, a close cooperation should be established with the organisational unit(s):

(1)responsible for the implementation of the maintenance programme of its own vehicles (see ADR.OPS.C.007); and

(2)monitoring the implementation of the maintenance programme of the vehicles of organisations operating or providing services at the aerodrome. It should be ensured that information regarding vehicles which do not continue to meet the relevant requirements is forwarded to the responsible aerodrome unit(s) (if different) to take appropriate action.

(d)The established procedures should clearly indicate how cases of violations of the applicable requirements are dealt with, taking also into account the significance of each violation.