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US. Department
of Transportation 
Federal Aviation
,
'Administrason

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3"":mm" ~ wr-    W...- a".~m.eer FLW.
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Subject: GROUND vEHICLs OPERATIONS ON    Date: March 31, 2008    AC No: ISO/521020
AIRPORTS  '                   Initiated by: AAS300   Change: 1

1.  PURPOSE. This Advisory Circular (AC) and             a.  All airport operators should establish
the attached appendices provide guidance to airport
x         procedures and policies concerning vehicle access
i
operators in developing training programs for 'safe         andVehicle operations on the airside ofthe airport,
ground vehicleoperations and pedesnian control on       includinamp and apron areas. These prooedures
'
the airside ofan airpoit. This includes both             and policies should address such matters as access,
movement andnonmovement areas, lamps, and        Vehicle operator requirements, vehicle requirements,
5131one. Not all the items addressedin this document      operations, and enforcement and should be
will be applicable at every airport. The Federal.           incorporated into tenant leases and agreements.
Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that
b. Establishment ofprocedures for the safe and
each iiemhe evaluated in terms ofhowitmay apply
orderly access to themovement area and operation in
to the size, complexity, and scope ofoperation ofthe
that area is required at certicated airports, under 14*
airport. This AC contains recommended operating        CFR. 15 139.32963). Initial and recurrenttrainjng in
procedures,a sample training curriculum(Appendix
p1ocedures for access to the movement areais
A), anda sample training manual (AppendixB).         required for airportpersonnel under  139303(0).
2.  BACKGROUND. Every year iers are             Only initial training is required for tenant and
accidents andincidents involving aircraft,              contractor employees, under  139329(e). However,
pedestrians, and gicund vehicles at airports that lead       regular recmreut training is stronglyrecommended
to property damage andinjury, which may be fatal.       for all persons with access to the movement area
Many ofthcse events result cm inadequate security
c.  Each bidding document (construction plans
measures, a failure to maintain visual aids, a lack of        and/or specifications) for development work on an
such aids, and inadequate vehicle operator training
airport or for installation of an air navigation
Ground vehicle operation plans promote the Safety of *
facility (NAVAlD) should incorporate a section on
airport users by helping identify authorized areas of
ground vehicle operatiOns on airports during
vehicle operation, outlining vehicle identication
construction activity. The aiiport'operator should
systems, addressing vehicle and operator              provide a copy ofthis plan to the local FAA
requirements, and coordinating construction,
.               Airways Facilities office for review. The
maintenance, and emergency activities; ,
construction plans and/or specications should
3.  APPLICABILITY. The overall responsibility        contain the appropriate provisions, as specied in
for the operation ofvehicles on an airport rests with        Appendix I ofAC 150/5370~2, OperationalSafety
'
the airport Operator. The airport operator is also           on Airport's During Comtmction.
responsible for compliance withthe requirements of
part 139 at certicated airports and with the
provisions of any applicable Federal grant
agreements. Adherence to the provisions contained in
this AC may materially assist the airportopcrator in
complying with these requirements.

AC 'l_5_0/521020 Change 1                                                     3/31/2008


4 RELATED READING MATERIAL. You will   does notnormally require training. Airport operators
nd additional information111 the following            may modify these documents to meettheir individual
publications:                                 needs It may also be advantageous to develop
customized p1ogramsfox vehicles operators who only
a.  14 CFR part 139, Certication ofAirports
access 1a1up areas
and those who operate
on the
b.01nrent editions ofthe following advisory      movement area
ctrculars. .
Initial training is the training provided to a new
(1) AC 90~67, Light Signals from the        4 employee or airport user that would enable thatperson
_
Control Tower for Ground Vehicles, Equipment, and      to demonstrate the abity to operate avehicle safely
Personnel                               and in accordance with established procedures while
functioning independently on the airside. Recurrent
(2) AC 120-57, Surface Movement
Guidance and Control System .
namingis the training provided to an employee 01
airportuser as often as necessary to enable that person.
(3) AC 150152106, Painting, Marking, and      to maintain a satisfactorylevel ofprociency
Lighting ofVehicles Used on an Airport              Appropriate schedules for recurrent training will vary
widely irom airport to 8311;ort and om one employee
(4) AC 150153404, Standards for Airport
to anoier, however, underno circumstances should
Markings
recurrent training intervals forperSonnel authorized to
(5) AC 150/5340-18, Standards for Airport      drive on the movement area extendheyond one year.
Sign Systems                             Ahport operators might consider requiring annual
recurrent namingwhen a vehicle operatorrenews an
(6) AC 150/5370-2, Operational Safety on      expired airport ID badge 01wheu'a tenant renews a
Airports During Construction                     lease agreementA sample GroundVehicle Operating
(7) AC 150/5210~18, Systems for           FamiliarizaonProgram TrainingRecord'is included"in
.
Interactive Training ofAirport Personnel              AppondixB
,
(8) AC 15015200430, Airport Winter Safety      Airpoits use a variety ofmethods for training ground
and Operations                             vehicle operators. In some cases, airport operators
.
delegate the reqm'rement ofemployee training to
c.  To view orido'wnload an electronic copy of _
airport tenants or a contractor. Some airport operators
I this AC, visit the'FAA website at http://www.iaagov.        choose to include training manuals or vehicle
operating requirements as part oftenant lease or use
S.  VEHICLEIOPERATOR REQUIREMENTS.
agreements. An airport operator maychoose to
Vehicle opcraters, on airports face conditions that are       distribute training manual information via a Web
not normally encountered during highway driving.
page, videos, or booklets Formal classroom
Therefore, those persOns whohave vehicular'aocess       instruction provided by the airport operator or tenant
I to the movement area ofthe airport must have an
caninclude either personal instruction or a computer
'
appropriate level ofknowledge ofairport rules and        hased interactive training system. (See AC 150/5210-
regulations. Airport operators should requirevehicle       1 3.)
operators to maintain a current driver's license and
should establish a means ofidentication thatWould      Airport operators should provide a means oftesting
' permit the operation of a vehicle onthe airside of an          trainees on the information presented. In additionto
airport. Any person expected to Operate on the           standard question and answer classroom testing
movement area should demonstrate a functional         methods, the airport Opelatols should have potential
.q-m
knowledge ofthe Englishlanguage                ground vehicle operators demonstrate their
prociency in operating a vehicle on the airside
6;  TRAINING. AppendixA includes a sample          before authorizing driving privileges. TheFAA also
recommends onthej01) training before personnel
training curriculum. This curriculum should include
' initial and/or remedial instruction of all personnel         have unescorted access to the airside ofthe airport.
WhohaVe access to the airside ofthe airport. The         7.  VEHICLES ONAIRPORTS. Airport operato1s
curriculum should also include annual recurrent          shouldkeep vehicular andpedestrian activity on the '
instruction for all perSOnnel who have access to the        airside ofthe airport to a miimulu'. Vehicles on the
movement area. The airport operator should retain        airside ofthe airport should be limited to those
records of this training as long as this person is           vehicles necessary to support the operation ofaircraft
authorized to operate on the airport. Escorted access
Services, cargo and passenger services, emergency

3/31/2008                                               AC 150/5210-20 Change 1

services, and maintenance of the airport. Vehicles on       At airports without an operating ATC'I', twoway
the movement area should be limited to those           radio control between vehicles and xedbased
necessary for the inspection and maintenance ofthe       operators or other airport users should avoid
movement areas and emergency vehicles responding      'equencies used by aircraft. Even With the most
to an aircraft emergency on the movement area.          sophisticated procedures and equipment, vehicle
Vehicles should use service roads orpublic roads in       operators need training to achieve the prociency to
lieu ofcrossing movement areas wheneverpossible.       operate safely. The airport operator should give
Where vehicular trafc on airport operation areas         special consideration to training temporary operators,
cannot be avoided, it should be carerlly controlled.        such as construction workers; even if eacort service is
being provided.
Whennecessary, runway crossing should occur at the
departure runway end rather than the'midpoint. In the      Inadvertent entry by vehicles onto movement and
event ofa runway incursion, an aircraftwould have       non-movement areas ofan airport poses a danger to
both the vehicle operator and aircraft that are
more time and1unway length to react ifthe vehicle
incursion is at: the end ofthe runway.                  attempting to land or take off or that are maneuvering
on the airport. Methods for controlling access to the
Some aspects ofvehicle control and identication are      airside will vary depending on the type and location
discussedbelOw; however, every airport presents         ofthe airport. The Airport Layout Plan is a useful
different vehicle requirements and problems. Every       toolfor accomplishing this. Airports may erect a
'
airport will require individualized solutions to            fence or provide for other natural or physical barriers
preventvehicle orpedestrian trafc orn              aroundthe entire airport in addition to providing
endangering aircra operations. It should be stressed       control measures at each access gate, such as guards,
that aircraALWAYS have the right-of-way eyer       magnetic card activated locks, or remotely controlled
vehicles when maneuvering onnonmovement areas.      locks. Gates may either be opened/closed
Aircraft also havethe right-of-way on the movement      electronically or securedby lock and chain. Physical
areas, exceptwhen the Airport Traffic Control Tower      barriers might include natural objects, such as earthen
(ATCT) has specically instructed an aircraft to hold      bonus, large boulders, tree trunks, and manmade
,a\,                     or give way to vehicle(s) on arunway or taxiway.            culverts that couldhelp control remote vehicle access
Vehicles thatroutinely Operate on the airside should       points.
be marked/flagged forhigh daytime visibility and, if
9.
appropriate, lighted for nighttime operations.               VEHICLEREQUIREMENTS. Requirements
Vehicles that are equipped withmarking and lighting      for vehicles will vary depending on the airport, the
devices should escort vehicles that are not marked        type ofvehicle, and where the vehicle will be
and lighted. (See AC 150/52105.) Vehicles needing       operated on the airport An airport operator should
limit vehicle operations on the movement areas ofthe
intermittent identication shouldbernarked with
magnetically attached markers, which are              airport to only those vehicles necessary to support the
commercially available.                         operational activity ofthe airport. Airport operators
might find it benecial to have separate requirements
for vehicles operated solely on a ramp area as
8.  VEHICULARACCESS CONTROL. The
controlofvehicular activity on the airside of an          opposed to those vehicles that operate on movement
areas.
airport is ofthe highest importance. The airport
operator is responsible for developing procedures,         Some airports have benefited from establishhig their
procuring equipment, and providingtraining           ownvehicle inspection program to assure that all
regarding vehicle operations to ensure aircralt and        vehicles are maintained in a safe operating condition.
personnel safety. At airports with an operating           In establishing vehicle requirements, some items to
ATCT, controllers and vehicle operators should use       consider include
two-wayradios to control vehicles when ontbe
a.
movementarea. To accomplish this task, the airport             Marking and identication ofvehicles
operator and the ATCT should develop a letter of           I).  Minimum equipmentrequirements
agreement outlining standard operatingprocedures.
When there is construction on an airport, Whether            c.  Inclusion in all vehicles ofa placard
federally funded or not, the airport operator should        diagram depicting the airport's movement area. The
follow the ground vehicle practices contained in AC       diagram should display prominent landmarks and/or
150/537c2.                            perimeter roads. Vehicles intended to operate within
the movement area should also include a placard

AC 150/5210-20 Change 1                                              3/31/2008

showing the meaning ofA-TCT light gun signals and      111. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND OTHER
aireld sign and marking infonnation;                NON-EDWIN?) GPERATEONS. Anport Operators
allow a number ofuonroutine operations to occur on
d.  vehicle condition requirements and
the airside ofthe airport: Such non-1oune activities
inspection                                include aireld construction, airshows, aircraft static
8.  111311131183 coverage                          displays, VB? anivals/departures, commercial photo
shoots, or a host of othei activities. In addition to
10. VEHICLE OPERATIONS. The rules and        security requirements, airport operators should '
regulations pertaining to vehicle operations should        recognize andprepare for the unique challenges that
provide adequate procedures for the safe and orderly       arise during nonroutine operations as they relateto
operation ofvehicles on the airside ofthe airport. In       vehicle operations.
developing such procedures, airport operators should      Airport operators should review nonrroutine
consider~
operations that involve ground vehicles and develop
21.  Requirements that vehicles operating on            vehicle operation procedures to accommodate these
p
movement areas he radio equipped or esoorted by a       special operations. Planning meetings associated With
radio-eQuipped vehicle                         such activities offer an opportunity to review driving
2
rules andregulations, communications and
b.  Specic procedural requirements for vehicle      procedures, and air trafc control procedures as well
operations on airports without an operatingATCT
as other important operational issues.

c.  Advance notice/approval for operating a          These meetings shouldpay special attention to the
non~ahport ownedvehicle on the movement area        following activities:
d.  Speed limits
a.  Airside Constructli'm. The airport operator

e.  Prohibitions 011m                           should develop procedures, procure equipment, and
provide training on vehicle operations to ensure
{1} Passing other vehicles andtaxing          aircra safety during construction as specied in AC
.
aircraft                                      ' 150153402.
(2) Leaving a vehicle unattended and             13. Emergency Response/Mutual Aid. Many
rimning -           i.      airports rely on local emergency services to provide
aircraft rescue and reghting or emergency medical
{3) Drivingunder an aircraft except when
' services. Airport operators should ensure that such                                               servicing the aircraft
emergency service providers receive initial and
(4) Driving underpassenger bridges            recurrent training in the subject areas idened in
f.   Requirements stipulating whenvehicle             paragraph 10, Vehicle Operations, and maintain
records of such training. In addition, any mutual aid
lights must be operated
agreementhetv'veen the local emergency service
g.  Requirements for the use of dedicated           providers and the airport operator should specify
vehicle lanes and perimeter toads Whenever possible      vehicle operations naming requirements.

11.  Locations where vehicles may and may not
0.  Snow and Ice Removal. Airport Operators
park                                who use contractois for snow andwe control
1'. Rules ofght-oway (cg. for aircra,         operations should ensure agreements with such
contractors inch]do vehicle operations procedures,
emergency vehicles, other vehicles)
including training requirements, conSequences of
j.  Areas where vehicles may be serviced            non~compliance, and vehicle communications
k.  Procedures for inoperative radios While on a      requirements. The FAA recommends that, when
possible, airport operators limit contractors to non-
movement area
.  movement areas; When an ATCT is not in operation,
1.   Requirements to report all accidents                or there is no ATCT, procedures should he developed
involving ground vehicles on the airside               to advise air tra'lc on the Common Iraftic Advisory
Frequency (CTAF) ofany intentions to remove snow
m. Requirements making the vehicle operator
and ice in the movement area.
responsible for passengers in the vehicle
(1.  Low-Visibility Operations. Additional
consideration should be given to vehicle operations

3/31/2008                                                Ac 150/5210-20 Change 1'

during low visibility. Poor weather conditions (snow,      Airport operators may also be able to increase
fog, rain, etc.) may obscure visual cues, Icadway         situational awareness for vehicle operators with
markings, and airport signs.                        enhancements on the airsicle. Such enhancements
may include establishing dedicated marked routes for
Some airports have a Surface Movement Guidance
vehicles that avoid high activity, congested areas, or
and Control System (SMGCS), which provides '
blind spots. The elimination or relocation ofxed
guidance to, and control orregulation of, all aircraft
objects that hinder a vehicle operator's line of sight
and ground vehicles on the movement area of an
or block radio Transmissions may also enhance safety.
airport. Guidance relates to facilities, information,
and advice necessary to enable pilots of aircraft, or
13. ENFORCEMENTAND CONTROL. Airport
drivers ofground vehicles, to nd their way on the
operators should establish procedures for enforcing
airport and keep the aircra; or vehicles on the
the consequences ofnon-compliance, including
surfaces and areas intended for their use. Control or
penalties for violations. Tenant lease or use
regulation means the measures necessaryto prevent
agreements may include these enforcement
collisions and to ensure that the trafc ows safely.
provisions. Listed below are controlissues that
For additional information on the SMGCS and the
airport operators shouldaddress as part ofa ground
SMGCS Plan,refer to AC 12057.
vehicle control program:

12. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. There are a        2. Implementation ofa tiered identication
number offactors thathamper vehicle operator          hedging system that permits easy recognition ofa
situational awareness. Situational awareness declines       vehicle operator's permitted driving area privileges
as a driver's attention is'drawn into the vehicle or is
b.  Prohibition against transfer of registration
focused onany one thing to the exclusion of
media to a vehicle other than the one for which
everything else. Other such factors include vague or       originally issued
incomplete communications or a vehicle operator's
personal conicts, which may involve fatigue and.           0.  Policies for surrendering permits to airport
stress. Running behind Schedule 01 being over-tasked      managementwhen a vehicle is no longer authorized
also contributes to arcductionin situational ..       entry into a facility
awareness. Certainly, degraded operating conditions,          d.  Periodic checks to ensure that onlyproperly
such as equipment malfunctions, rain, fog, or snow,
authorized persons operate vehicles on the airside.
may also diminish a vehicle operator's siniational
awareness.                                   e.  System to controlthe movement of
commercial trucks and other goods conveyances onto
There are ways to enhance situational awareness. As       and out ofthe airside of an airport
part ofa ground Vehicle operator's training program,
airport operators may concentrate on having vehicle          f.  Brieng or training for delivery drivers if
operators visually scan xed andmoving objects that      they are permitted direct access to the airside
maybe converging into the vehicle's path. Airport '
g. . Implementation of a progressive penalty
operators should also promote the use ofclear and
policy
concise communications by vehicle operators. Most
important, airport operators should alert vehicle
operators to distractions caused by social interactions
while operating a vehicle on the airside.
757%
KelvinL. Solco
Acting Director ofAirport Safety and Standards