CHAPTER 14 CONTROL OF AIRSIDE ACCESS AND VEHICLE CONTROL
Note Aerodrome operators may provide a dedicated airside licence, permit or authorisation to manage significant hazards associated with airside vehicle control.
14.01 Airside access and operation of vehicles — training
(1) A driver (airside driver) operating a vehicle on the airside (an airside vehicle) must be trained to know and understand the following:
(a) the terminology used to describe the movement area;
(b) the purpose and location of all airside areas;
(c) hazardous or prohibited areas on the airside;
(d) the significance of aerodrome visual aids and signs.
(2) Despite subsection (1), for an aerodrome with no scheduled air transport operations, an induction may take the place of formal training, provided that the matters mentioned in paragraphs (1) (a) to (d) are covered in the induction.
(3) An aerodrome operator must ensure that no vehicle is driven or operated airside unless the vehicle is an airside vehicle driven or operated by an airside driver in accordance with this Chapter.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if an airside driver in an airside vehicle is under direct escort by another airside driver in another airside vehicle who is:
(a) operating in accordance with subsection (1); and
(b) authorised by the aerodrome operator to provide the escort service.
(5) For subsection (4), the aerodrome operator must have procedures in the aerodrome manual to ensure that any escort service provider who is not the aerodrome operator is monitored for compliance with this Chapter.
14.02 Airside access permits
For an aerodrome that, in the course of a financial year, has more than 350 000 air transport passenger movements or more than 100 000 aircraft movements, the aerodrome operator must comply with the following not later than 6 months after the date of publication, by the Department, of the movement numbers for the aerodrome for the financial year:
(a) establish a permit system for the airside operation of airside vehicles;
(b) verify the competency of all airside drivers;
(c) actively monitor all airside drivers for the possession of a licence and compliance with the established airside driving rules.
14.03 Airside vehicle requirements
(1) The aerodrome operator must have procedures in the aerodrome manual to ensure that airside vehicles, including ground equipment operated airside, are maintained so as to prevent:
(a) any avoidable breakdown or unsafe operation; and
(b) any spillage of fuel, lubricant or hydraulic fluid.
Note Airside vehicles and equipment may include the vehicles and equipment of third parties with airside access, and consequently the aerodrome manual must have procedures addressing prevention of breakdowns or spillage by such vehicles and equipment.
(2) The aerodrome operator must:
(a) establish speed limits for airside vehicles on the movement area; and
(b) have arrangements for the monitoring and enforcement of traffic rules, including speed limits.
(3) The aerodrome operator must have procedures in the aerodrome manual to ensure that airside vehicles must not be driven:
(a) under an aircraft; or
(b) within 3 m of lateral clearance, or within 1 m of overhead clearance, of any part of an aircraft;
except when required for servicing the aircraft.
(4) Subject to subsections (7) and (8), an airside vehicle operating on a runway strip, a runway, a taxiway strip or a taxiway must be equipped for communications as follows:
(a) for a non-controlled aerodrome or an aerodrome where ATC is not in operation — at least a VHF receiver capable of monitoring the CTAF or ATC frequencies, as applicable.
(b) for a controlled aerodrome where ATC is in operation — a VHF radio capable of two-way communications with ATC.
(5) If using a transmitter, the operator of an airside vehicle operating on a runway strip, a runway, a taxiway strip or a taxiway must:
(a) be certified under Part 64 of CASR for the use of radiocommunication equipment; and
(b) monitor the relevant frequency at all times when operating on the manoeuvring area.
(6) An airside vehicle must remain clear of a runway strip, a runway, a taxiway strip or a taxiway when it is in use, or intended to be used, by an aircraft, unless there is a safety‑related or operational requirement for the vehicle to operate in these areas.
(7) Subsection (4) does not apply to vehicles operating on a designated live taxiway crossing marked across a taxiway on the manoeuvring area, if:
(a) at a controlled aerodrome — the location of the live taxiway crossing has been agreed to in writing by the ATS provider; and
(b) the crossing is marked in accordance with section 8.54 (Vehicle service road markings); and
(c) all drivers using the crossing are appropriately licenced, and trained and assessed specifically in relation to the dangers of using the live taxiway crossing; and
(d) compliance by crossing vehicles is monitored by the aerodrome operator against the relevant vehicle procedures; and
(e) crossing does not occur when low-visibility procedures are in effect.
Note 1 Designation of a relevant live taxiway crossing is by the aerodrome operator, in consultation with the ATS provider.
Note 2 See section 23.03 (Implementation of low-visibility procedures).
(8) Subsection (4) does not apply to an airside vehicle or equipment if the vehicle or equipment is under escort by another vehicle that is equipped in accordance with subsection (4).
14.04 Surveillance equipment installed on an airside vehicle
For compliance with paragraph 139.130 (2) (a) of CASR:
the surveillance equipment installed on a vehicle must:
(i) be a non-transponder device emitting 1090 MHz extended squitter using Downlink Format 18 (DF=18); and
(ii) be compatible with the aerodrome ground surveillance system; and
the surface movement guidance and control system in use at the aerodrome must:
(i) comply with the requirements for B2 Low class transmitters in accordance with ICAO Annex 10, Volume IV, Chapter 5, as in force or existing from time to time; and
(ii) transmit power of at least 8.5 dBW but less than 18.5 dBW.
14.05 Airside vehicle lighting requirements
(1) An airside vehicle must be lit if moving or operating:
(a) on the movement area at night; or
(b) during periods of low visibility.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), an airside vehicle moving or operating on a runway strip, a runway, a taxiway strip or a taxiway must be lit even during the hours of daylight.
(3) A vehicle directly connected to an aircraft, including a glider, is not required to have a light mentioned in subsection (4) during the hours of daylight provided the standard manufacturer-fitted vehicle hazard warning lights that conform to the Australian Design Rules, as in force or existing from time to time, are in operation.
Note A glider under tow by a vehicle is considered to be a taxiing aircraft and no dedicated light on top of the vehicle is required.
(4) Subject to subsections (5), (6) and (7), a light must be placed on top of an airside vehicle.
(5) If a light cannot be placed on top of an airside vehicle, additional lights must be provided in other locations on the vehicle to ensure visibility in all directions.
(6) For an aerodrome not servicing scheduled air transport operations, an airside vehicle operating during the hours of daylight in accordance with subsection (2) may use standard manufacturer-fitted vehicle hazard warning lights that conform to the Australian Design Rules, as in force or existing from time to time.
(7) At an international aerodrome or an aerodrome with scheduled air transport operations, an airside vehicle operating in accordance with subsection (2) must be fitted with a dedicated rotating or flashing vehicle hazard light (a rotating or flashing light).
(8) For subsection (7), the rotating or flashing light must:
(a) be yellow or amber in colour; and
(b) flash at a rate of 60-90 flashes per minute; and
(c) where possible, have a peak intensity of between 40 cd and 400 cd; and
Note CASA recommends that vehicle hazard lights should be visible at a distance of at least 200 m in daylight conditions.
(d) be placed on top of the vehicle and visible from all directions, unless this is impossible in which case additional, equivalent rotating or flashing lights must be provided in other locations to ensure visibility in all directions.
(9) For subsection (7), the rotating or flashing light must operate whether the vehicle is moving or stationary, on a runway strip, a runway, a taxiway strip or a taxiway.
(10) Aircraft servicing equipment that does not have its own motive power and is used only on aprons is not an airside vehicle and is not required to comply with subsection (1) or (2).
(11) An airside vehicle or equipment is not required to comply with the lighting requirements of this section if it is under escort by another vehicle which does comply with the requirements of this section.
14.06 Surface vehicle control and communications
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the driver of a vehicle must not operate on the manoeuvring area of a controlled aerodrome without authorisation from the ATC service.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the ATC service is not in operation for the aerodrome.
Note Authorisation may be in the form of an ATC clearance or in accordance with an agreement in writing between the aerodrome operator and the ATS provider.
(3) The driver of a vehicle operating, or intending to operate, on the manoeuvring area of a controlled aerodrome must:
(a) comply with any clearances and instructions issued by an air traffic controller; and
(b) read back to the air traffic controller the safety-related parts of any clearance or instruction which the controller has transmitted by voice.
(4) Without affecting subsection (3), the following parts of a clearance or instruction must always be read back to the air traffic controller:
(a) any route specified in a clearance or instruction;
(b) any clearance to, any conditional clearance to, or any instruction to, operate on, enter, stop on, wait on, hold short of, cross, or vacate, any runway or taxiway;