On Day 5 of Canadian Airports Safety Week (CASW), we are reviewing the processes and procedures in place to keep the airside safe.
On-site activities
Toronto Pearson Safety Program Cash Cab
Make sure to watch out for the Safety Cash Cab around the airport and test your knowledge in person for cash prizes.
Online learning
Day 5 – Airside Safety
Today we are reviewing the different elements required to keep the airside a safe and productive place to work. Today's reminders will cover:
- Hazard performance reviews
- Airside driving
- Signs of arriving or departing aircraft
Once you have reviewed the day’s learning material, test your knowledge of Airside concerns by taking today’s quiz below.
Participants in today's quiz will be automatically entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card. Read the Terms and Conditions here.
Hazard Performance Reviews
Every year, the Aviation Safety Management team completes a full review of hazard performances. This is a full review of identified hazards that require controls or mitigations to ensure that we are operating in a safe environment at Toronto Pearson.
For 2024, the safety risk profile includes themes within the maneuvering area and apron area, such as:
- Runway Incursions – The unauthorized presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or pedestrian on a runway.
- Airfield Electrical – Non-compliance or technical failure in airfield lighting and signage.
- Surface Openings/Closures – Gaps within the process of opening or closing a surface on the maneuvering area.
- Collision-Vehicle/Equipment/Bridge/Building – Contact between a 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 or parked at the wrong gate.
- Operational Irregularity (Pushback/Apron) – Any deviation or disruption of standard operating procedures specific to pushback procedures and apron management.
Airside Driving
Safe airside driving requires that drivers are aware of conditions and focused on safe behaviours. Always make sure to:
- Observe speed limits
- Not drive under jet bridges
- Use vehicle corridors vs. tail of stand road when possible
- Give way to aircraft including aircraft under tow
- Ensure your vehicle comes to a full stop at stop signs and look all ways for potential crossing Aircraft
The top 5 AVOP infractions are:
- Unsafe movement of vehicle
- Failure to yield right of way to aircraft or marshalling crew
- Failure to wear seatbelt
- Driving 1-9 km above the speed limit
- Failure to obey stop sign and/or barriers
Avoid infractions by reviewing rules on speed limits, seatbelts and right of way
Speed Limits:
- Review the chart below to know your speed limits and remember to always drive according to weather conditions.
Click it or Ticket! Remember to wear your seatbelts:
- Drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts while vehicles and equipment are in motion on the airside.
- This requirement is enforceable under the AVOP Program Demerit Point System, and an infraction may be issued for non-compliance (3 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 cut-off.
- 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.
- 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.
Stop Signs are not Stoptional!
How to recognize departing or arriving aircraft
Nine signs of departing aircraft (pushback):
- 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 airside drivers see any pushback indicators, they must comply with the following directives:
- 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.
- Neither drive 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 or wingwalker(s) signals permission to continue.
- Do not deviate from vehicle corridors to drive around an aircraft on pushback. Remain within the corridor until the ground crew and tug have cleared the apron side of the corridor.
Four signs of an arriving aircraft
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 staged
- Equipment is cleared to enable safe aircraft docking. (Visual Docking Guidance Systems may be activated.)
Remember to always exercise caution while driving near any towed aircraft. A marshalling crew does not always accompany towed aircraft and a tow crew may turn the aircraft toward a gate without any warning.
Thank You!
Make sure you have completed all the week’s quizzes and courses for the best chance to win prizes!
Thank you for participating in these five days of activities and learning for Canadian Airports Safety Week and for continuing to help us create a culture of safety and security excellence at Pearson.