Other Important Information
FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE (FOD)
Trash or rocks sucked into a jet engine can shred parts of the engine in seconds. A rock caught by a propeller can damage the propeller, as well as become a deadly projectile. Make your airport a safer place by putting all trash in a covered container that won’t be blown over. Get in the habit of picking up any trash and rocks near aircraft movement areas. Also pick up nails, bolts, or pieces of metal that could cause FOD or puncture tires, avoid tracking mud and rocks onto the pavement surfaces. Always drive your vehicle on the right side of the taxiways and along the fence on the apron to reduce the chances of FOD.
REPORTING ACCIDENTS
If you are involved in an accident, report it immediately to Airport Management. If a collision occurred between you and an aircraft, it’s critical that the aircraft not be flown until the damage can be inspected and repaired.
AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIRE FIGHTING (ARFF)
Just as when you are in highway traffic, if you see an airport emergency vehicle with its lights on, pull out of its way, stop, and do not proceed until it is well clear of you.
SECURITY
Depending on the type of airport you work on, the security system may be as simple as a fence or it may include items as complicated as computer controlled automatic gates with television screen monitors. At the Punta Gorda Airport, airport staff is responsible for security and will notify the Sheriff’s Department for assistance. If you see a gate left open, close it, and then report it to airport staff.
MOWERS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
Grass has to be cut, the pavement occasionally needs to be swept and lights and other equipment need repairing. If you are the person who has to do these things, then you will be working on or next to the taxiways and runways, and you need to be extra careful.
FUEL TRUCKS, SERVICE VEHICLES AND TUGS
Your job may require you to fuel or service aircraft. If so, you probably will never need to go onto a runway or taxiway. However, some accidents have occurred because the driver (who normally only drove on the apron and roadways) became confused or wasn’t paying attention and accidentally drove onto the runway or taxiway? Other accidents have occurred on the ramp areas where the driver was authorized to drive, either because the pilot and/or driver failed to see each other and didn’t stop in time, or because a moving object (either a plane or a vehicle) ran into a parked one. So follow the rules we talked about earlier, as well as the airport’s rules and regulations.