Never stop short of the gate!

[Sailvi767]

Hard to imagine they did not see the truck or feel the impact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_m5QULMwjY&feature=youtu.be

[punkalouver]

Some pilots like to look straight ahead while approaching a turn and then maybe do a quick look in the direction where they are turning. In reality, the pilot should lean forward and look both beside and behind prior to the start of the turn and keep looking in that manner during the turn.

As for the vehicle driver: When there is an aircraft taxiing alongside you like this, it is a very good idea to take looks at the gates for marshallers about to wave in an aircraft as you drive along.

I like how the vehicle continued on behind the aircraft while it was still taxiing in with engines running. Hopefully, he is looking for a new job.

[dixi188]

I don't think they use marshallers at Stansted. Most stands have AGNIS or similar. Not been there for about 18 years though.

[Equivocal]

There's often something to indicate than a stand is active - aircraft starting or about to push or enter the stand - important for drivers to look out for. As are speed limits and aircraft.

[Race200]

Surely the pilots should be looking at the Marshallers only. Aren’t they the ones in charge at this point?

[Dufo]

Surely the pilots should be looking at the Marshallers only. Aren’t they the ones in charge at this point?

One is taxiing but both are on the lookout for situational awareness. Clear left/right is not something we just jabble for the sake of it.

[Musket90]

I believe the stand concerned has Safedock Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) so no marshaller involved.

[Chesty Morgan]

Surely the pilots should be looking at the Marshallers only. Aren’t they the ones in charge at this point?
No, responsibility remains with the commander.

[NWSRG]

Surely a few taxi cameras wouldn't go amiss? If they can put them on a Tesla or BMW, you'd think Boeing could manage it...

[FullWings]

I feel vulnerable changing direction by a large amount when taxying as even with my face pressed against the side window I can’t see the wingtips, which is true for quite a lot of aircraft. Yes, you always expect the unexpected but it would be interesting to know at what point the RHS occupant might have seen the oncoming vehicle, assuming they actually could at all...

[barry lloyd]

When I did my airfield driving course about 14 years ago now, I was taught that moving aircraft always had priority, and that if one was moving in your vicinity, you stopped until it had passed, and that you should only pass behind one when the anti-colls weren't operating.

[sycamore]

FW, on the video the van comes into camera view at 6 secs,as the a/c turns,and is a bit,in front of the a/c nose line.Collision occurs at 11-12 secs.Time for both `drivers/co` to have seen each other,and stopped..

[beamer]

100% down to the truck driver - Captain would have been looking left and ahead towards the centreline and quidance system. The fact the driver tries to reverse is a bit of a clue !

[punkalouver]

100% down to the truck driver - Captain would have been looking left and ahead towards the centreline and quidance system. The fact the driver tries to reverse is a bit of a clue !

The first officer is supposed to look to the right and should look behind. Also, the pilot not taxiing should have feet ready to immediately apply brakes faster than one can say I Have Control.

The truck driver should be driving in such a manner that he is monitoring the aircraft and its progress and the gates for likelihood of a turn-in. If it is moving fast and able to easily pull ahead then let it do so. If it is moving slow, then carefully move ahead at the appropriate time.

The reality is that based on my experience as a ground crew and a pilot, neither of these are trained. Like so many other things, common sense is an important factor in hiring to try and overcome this type of situation(and many others) but difficult to analyze.

[Less Hair]

I only know airport apron driving rules demanding all vehicles airside have to yield to aircraft at any time. Cars have to slow down or stop whenever aircraft move. This is why the truck driver is to blame.

[Timmy Tomkins]

Years of operating into CDG taught me to assume that a service vehicle would try to dart in front of you, way, way to close; especially those little cars with dispatch personell on board. ASR after ASR made no difference at all. I have performed what a driving examiner would call, "an emergency stop," more than once. I have no idea if it's still like that but as a cutural issue, I imagine so.

[MichaelKPIT]

I only know airport apron driving rules demanding all vehicles airside have to yield to aircraft at any time. Cars have to slow down or stop whenever aircraft move. This is why the truck driver is to blame.
And you never, ever, EVER drive behind an aircraft whose beacon is flashing! (Referring to what the driver did after the collision.)

And then the idiot in the high profile vehicle drives right behind the arriving aircraft? Engines running? Beacon flashing?

[fdr]

In respect of "Never Stop Short of the Gate", can you explain the meaning of that comment? The aircraft at the point of turning into the gate has presumably got AGNIS or other indication that the gate is open. They have passed the vehicle, and when they commence the turn, they are clear of traffic. The vehicle continues to enter the ramp area in front of the gate, and does so behind the forward view of the FO. A very diligent FO may continue to monitor the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle has not infringed the ramp, but I am trying hard to recall too many FOs or even captains that would take that level of caution, once they were in front of the gate and had no obstacle between them and their parking spot. Should it be done? Sure. Does it get done? My observation doing checks and evaluations is, less often than desired, and there is a potential expectation of success that grows over time, not quite a normalisation of deviation, you just don't often get vehicles that fail to obey their obligations.

The design of ramps opens up opportunities for these events, hard to blame the flight crew in this case, and probably misguided to blame the vehicle driver for a lousy concept of access. Our airports are designed by klutzes, to be a damned mess. Blaming the operators for bad design hardly improves the outcome, it is akin to the adage that beatings will continue until morale improves.

There are airports where traffic only flows normally on the terminal side of the bays, with access to the bay only from that point.

[MichaelKPIT]

As someone who was trained to drive airside, and had to pass an airside driving test, I fail to see how this can be blamed on anyone BUT the truck driver. He literally saw a 737 overtake him. It turned right on to the stand, crossing his path. He saw it!! As other posters have said, ground vehicles ALWAYS give way to aircraft. I can't really tell from the video but his speed looks high. And another thing; if you are involved in an accident you do not move the vehicle unless it is causing an immediate obstruction. Ya certainly don't drive it behind an aircraft moving under its own power because of the jet blast!

[Uplinker]

Surely a few taxi cameras wouldn't go amiss? If they can put them on a Tesla or BMW, you'd think Boeing could manage it...

Where, in the cockpit would you put the monitors, especially in the small '73 cockpit? It was hard enough to find a space for the cockpit door camera monitor(s), and the EFBs on some types. Then you have visibility issues with television screens, both in bright daylight and night time.

You need both pairs of eyes outside while taxiing, especially when turning, e.g. onto stand.

We once had a handling agent who thought it was OK to drive one handed on public roads holding and using his phone while driving crews to security......

[FUMR]

Just a question. Are those driving vehicles around airport ramps ever given random alcohol and drug tests before commencing, or even during, duty?

[MichaelKPIT]

Just a question. Are those driving vehicles around airport ramps ever given random alcohol and drug tests before commencing, or even during, duty?
Yes, and yes. (Certainly at LHR.)

[Stockportcounty]

Given that ramp agents man the rd system for departures, surely the same can be done for arrivals. VS specify two agents in the rd for arrivals.

[alfaman]

As someone who was trained to drive airside, and had to pass an airside driving test, I fail to see how this can be blamed on anyone BUT the truck driver. He literally saw a 737 overtake him. It turned right on to the stand, crossing his path. He saw it!! As other posters have said, ground vehicles ALWAYS give way to aircraft. I can't really tell from the video but his speed looks high. And another thing; if you are involved in an accident you do not move the vehicle unless it is causing an immediate obstruction. Ya certainly don't drive it behind an aircraft moving under its own power because of the jet blast!
Likewise re airside driving: I'd surmise the driver was expecting the 737 to turn onto the stand further along, hence hadn't anticipated the aircraft turning right when it did, & realised too late to stop in time. As for their subsequent actions, shock does strange things to people.