On Day 3 of Canadian Airports Safety Week (CASW), we will highlight how we can move safely in different roles and areas of the airport.
On-site activities
Safety Road-eo
When: Wednesday, September 17, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Terminal 3 – Satelite Pier A - A1C/A1D
What: The annual Airside Safety Week Road-eo is back! This driving challenge is an exhilarating opportunity to test your airside driving skills with an obstacle course and a chance to win an amazing cash prize. This activity is meant to showcase the challenges that ramp agents face on a daily basis while servicing aircraft. A valid provincial driver license and an Airside Vehicle Operator’s Permit is required to participate in the Road-eo, but those who don’t compete are welcome to watch and cheer on our colleagues.
How: To participate in the Safety Road-eo, register here by September 12.
Online learning
Attend the Canadian Airports Council’s Webinar: Building Trust, Elevating Safety: A Real-World Look At Transforming Apron Culture
When: Wednesday, September 17, 1 to 2 p.m EDT
Where: Online
What: Join SMS Program Specialist Marcel Cabral for the Canadian Airports Council’s webinar about safety on the apron.
On Day 3 of CASW, we will review:
- Lock then walk
- Need and right
- Safe airside driving
Once you have reviewed the day’s learning material, test your knowledge of Safe Movement by taking today’s quiz.
Participants in today's quiz will be automatically entered into a prize draw for a chance to win one of our amazing prizes.
Read the Terms and Conditions here.
Lock Then Walk
Unauthorized movement of passengers and employees between security areas is a serious concern. These incidents could impact and inconvenience our airlines and passengers by causing flight delays due to security breaches.
Here’s how you can help prevent incidents from happening:
- Swipe your RAIC or keycard every time it is required.
- When going through a secure door, always make sure you push or pull it closed until it locks before walking away.
- Some doors have closers that cause them to shut slowly, which can allow the opportunity for someone to go through if the door is unattended. Monitor these doors until they’re fully closed behind you.
- Stop anyone who tries to follow you through doors that are opened with a RAIC swipe.
- Do your part in promoting a culture of security and report any concerns in the moment.
- Download the shift briefing
Need and Right
You must have a need and a right to be in a Restricted Area.
- Need = your work-related duties.
- Right = your airport pass.
Restricted Area
Only authorized persons may enter the restricted area and must carry a valid Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC) or other valid Document of Entitlement. Download the shift briefing
Transborder Area
Access into and through the Transborder Sector is strictly prohibited to personnel who are authorized to access and or scheduled to work (need and right) within the area.
- Only those personnel with a need and right to be in this area, while in the performance of their work-related duties as assigned by their employer shall enter this area.
- Employees working within the restricted /sterile area must keep their Restricted Area Identification Cards visible at all times.
- You are prohibited from:
- Accessing these areas if not working in the area;
- Loitering in these areas
- Using these areas as a short cut
- Using concessions or other facilities in these area unless you are working directly in the USA Transborder areas
Controlled Areas: CBSA Inspection Areas at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) areas are strictly controlled and enforced.
- Employees are prohibited from entering this area unless they have a need and right.
- Employees are prohibited from meeting or escorting family and/or friends in this area as well as any location in the Restricted Area.
- Please make arrangements to meet family members on the public side.
Security Control Pass Holders (Yellow Passes):
A Temporary Security Control Pass is issued to an employee who is awaiting transportation security clearance.
Remember: If working airside as a security control pass holder you must remain with a valid RAIC holder (escort) at all times for duration of work until you are on the public side.
Aviation Safety Management
Every year, the Aviation Safety Management team completes a full review of the hazards that we have identified that require control and or mitigation to ensure we are operating in a safe environment at Pearson.
For 2025, the safety risk profile includes themes within the maneuvering area and apron area, which include:
- Runway Incursions: Unauthorized presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or pedestrian on a runway
- Airfield Electrical: Non-compliance/technical failure in airfield lighting and signage
- Surface Openings/Closures: Gaps within the process of opening/closing a surface on the maneuvering area
- Collision-Vehicle/Equipment/Bridge/Building: Contact between vehicle/equipment/bridge and buildings
- Aircraft cut-off - Aircraft/Vehicle: Failing to yield right of way to an aircraft or aircraft tow crew
- Aircraft Parking: Aircraft parked unsafely/improperly and aircraft parked at wrong gate
Our goal is to decrease the number of trended incidents within these categories by 5 percent. To do so, we will be working with our hazard owners to identify objectives that will help drive change in these areas.
Airside Driving
Five most common AVOP Infractions :
- Unsafe movement of vehicle
- Failure to yield right of way to aircraft/marshalling crew
- Failure to wear seatbelt
- Driving 1-9 km above the speed limit
- Failure to obey stop sign/ signal
Let’s work together to keep our airside safe!
Know your speed limits and drive according to the weather conditions.
Driving Safely Airside
Safe airside driving requires that drivers are aware of conditions and focused on safe behaviours. These include:
- Observing speed limits
- Don’t drive under jet bridges
- Give way to aircraft including aircraft under tow
- Be aware of your surroundings and try to refrain from distractions
- Report any equipment deficiencies or issues to your supervisor or manager
- Wear your seatbelt
- This requirement is enforceable under the AVOP Program Demerit Point System. Failure to comply will result in a 5 day suspension and 6 demerit points.
Marshalls Matter!
Aircraft always have the right-of-way. Failing to yield right-of-way to an aircraft or aircraft tow crew may result in an aircraft cutoff. Prevent this serious infraction by recognizing when aircraft are arriving and departing.
Nine Signs of departing aircraft
The following are some indications that an aircraft is preparing to pushback from the gate:
- The bridge is retracted
- The chocks are removed
- A tug or towbarless tractor is attached to the aircraft
- Servicing equipment and aircraft utilities are moved away from the aircraft
- Aircraft doors and hatches are secured
- A marshaller may be in position
- A wingwalker(s) may be in position
- The aircraft engines may be running or started
- The aircraft anti-collision beacon(s) may be illuminated.
When drivers see any pushback indicators, they must:
- Yield right-of-way to the marshalling crew when the crew is marshalling the aircraft and when they are returning to the gate after the aircraft is released.
- Avoid driving between a marshaller or wingwalker(s) and the aircraft nor proceed around, in front of, or behind the aircraft unless authorized by the wingwalker(s) or marshaller.
- Prior to pushback, proceed behind the aircraft only when the marshaller signals permission to continue.
- Not deviate from vehicle corridors to drive around an aircraft on pushback and remain within the corridor until the ground crew and tug have cleared the apron side of the corridor.
Signs of Arriving Aircrafts
The presence of the following at a gate indicates that an aircraft arrival is likely:
- A marshaller is in position
- A wingwalker(s) is in position
- Servicing equipment is stagged
- Equipment is cleared to enable safe aircraft docking. (Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS), may be activated.
Exercise caution while driving in the vicinity of any towed aircraft. A marshalling crew does not always accompany towed aircraft; a tow crew may turn the aircraft toward a gate without any warning.
What to Do If a Cutoff Occurs
- Vehicle operators involved in an aircraft cut-off shall advise the Airport Operations Centre at 416-776-3055.
- In case of an emergency, please call 416-776-3033.
What Happens When You Get a Failure To Yield Infraction
The Failure to yield to aircraft or an aircraft’s marshalling crew is an AVOP Major Infraction and, depending on the circumstances, a violation of the Aeronautics Act.
- Upon receipt of an infraction for an aircraft cut-off, the Aviation Safety Officer will confiscate the AVOP(s) on site.
- There will no longer be a 14-day appeal period for individuals in receipt of an infraction for failure to yield to aircraft/marshaling crew.
- A meeting will be held with the pass holder, the pass holder’s employer and the AVOP office where a full review of the incident will be undertaken to confirm the validity of the infraction.
- Suspension duration will begin at the time of the issuance of the infraction.
- At the conclusion of the meeting and determination of the infraction being upheld, the pass holder will be required to undergo specified training related to aircraft cut-offs.
- This training module will be delivered by the AVOP office and will involve a combination of theory and practical training.
- The pass Directive holder will be required to book an available time through the AVOP website. This training will be approximately three (3) hours in length.
- The AVOP permit will be returned to the pass holder upon successful completion of training and the suspension period.
After you take today’s quiz be sure to join us again tomorrow for another learning opportunity and chance to win great prizes!