Recently, an SG Sky Chefs truck struck an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-700 parked at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) . It is somewhat common for aircraft to collide during taxing or pushback (like with American Eagle Embraer E175 recently) . With so many moving vehicles at airports , some accidents are always bound to happen, but what are the safety procedures involving airport ground vehicles at major airports? FAA's safety guided to ground airport operations The FAA offers a 15-page Airport Ground Vehicle Operations manual for drivers to refer to for general safety procedures but not for specifics.
Many of the guidelines offered are general in nature as every airport (and country) may be different. As one might expect, airport markings are color-coded. Runways are painted white, and taxiways are yellow.
Yellow taxiways are the areas aircraft use to get to and from the apron/ramp and the runway. Together, runways and taxiways are known as the airport's Movement Areas. Airports are required to limit access to this area to only pedestrians and ground vehicles required for aircraft operations.
The ICAO defines the Movement Area as " That part of an aerodrome to be used for the takeoff, landing and taxiing of aircraft, consisting of the maneuvering area and the apron(s) ." Examples of airport ground vehicles: Aircraft refuelers Pushback tugs Catering trucks De-icing vehicles Apron buses Aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles It is important for ground vehicles to giv.
