Walking across the Apron
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Walking across the Apron
Our company is about to issue us with reflective bright coloured jackets to wear whilst walking to the aircraft across 300m of tarmac. I'm trying to find out what other airports, company's, regulatory authorities etc have to say on the issue.
Are you driven, or do you walk. Any help or links etc would be appreciated.
Are you driven, or do you walk. Any help or links etc would be appreciated.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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our company sent out a memo saying that we are to wear the yellow green junk at all airports, but the only one we really do it at is LHR and used to at LGW and STN.
most times we are driven to and fro, but the UK airports want us to wear it even for a walk around the airplane.
but if no van or bus and it's not too far and too wet, we walk.
most times we are driven to and fro, but the UK airports want us to wear it even for a walk around the airplane.
but if no van or bus and it's not too far and too wet, we walk.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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At the airport where I worked, airport regs stated that reflective wests/jackets should be worn by everyone on the ramp at all times. Cleaners, catering and aircrews usually didn't, of course. Probably takes an accident to change that...
Cheers,
/ft
Cheers,
/ft
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We put on our reflective jackets before we walk out of the building and only take them off again once inside the aircraft.
The ramp is a very dangerous place and since reading about the captain killed by being squashed against the side of his aircraft by a tug/baggage truck in the UK last year, I don't mind wearing it.
Walking on the noisy ramp around the aircraft is probably the most dangerous part of the flight.
The ramp is a very dangerous place and since reading about the captain killed by being squashed against the side of his aircraft by a tug/baggage truck in the UK last year, I don't mind wearing it.
Walking on the noisy ramp around the aircraft is probably the most dangerous part of the flight.
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aerosoul
It is my opinion that 'I want my ar@e covered', not literally you understand, should I happen to be unfortunate or stupid enough to have an accident on the ramp. I will always wear my jacket at every airport, wherever it may be, even when the captain says "you're alright here, you don't need that on", so that if the accident ever happens I can be seen in the eyes of the insurer that I took every reasonable precaution to prevent it. I would hate to have just forgotten it that one day when an accident happens and the insurer sees his 'get out' of paying.
Apart from that most airlines will have it written into the Ops Manual when and where you should wear it (that's their 'get out' should you have an accident when not wearing it). Most major UK airports now require you to wear one on the ramp, some are hotter than others on policing it though. Understandably, Manchester is fairly hot.
Be safe
PP
It is my opinion that 'I want my ar@e covered', not literally you understand, should I happen to be unfortunate or stupid enough to have an accident on the ramp. I will always wear my jacket at every airport, wherever it may be, even when the captain says "you're alright here, you don't need that on", so that if the accident ever happens I can be seen in the eyes of the insurer that I took every reasonable precaution to prevent it. I would hate to have just forgotten it that one day when an accident happens and the insurer sees his 'get out' of paying.
Apart from that most airlines will have it written into the Ops Manual when and where you should wear it (that's their 'get out' should you have an accident when not wearing it). Most major UK airports now require you to wear one on the ramp, some are hotter than others on policing it though. Understandably, Manchester is fairly hot.
Be safe
PP
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I agree with the general comments about the jackets improving safety, but it can get a bit ridiculous. On a recent trip to an international (just) airport in the North East on a private flight, we were sent to park on the apron. No instructions were forthcoming on how/where to get into the terminal (no sign of the big black C, as I remember), so we set off, past the baggage handlers, and finally found a way in. There we were met by Mrs Jobsworth who told us we would not be allowed back out to the a/c without at least one of the required fluorescent vests. The fact that we had walked across the (deserted) international apron without said vest and without being chopped into a thousand pieces seemed irrelevant. The only way out it seemed was to buy a vest. I explained that we would only be stopping for lunch and enquired whether when we came back there might be someone available to escort us the 50 or so yards back to the apron. "Oh no," came the reply, "we're far too busy, and we've an international flight due in half an hour." So we bought one of the vests and had our lunch in the company of the other half-dozen people in the terminal. In the meantime, NOTHING moved on the apron. As we taxied out, said international flight was just shutting down: a KLM/UK FK50. Mrs Jobsworth was still ensconced in her little cubicle as someone else (in yellow jacket) prepared to meet the flight.
Amusing in hindsight, but bl**dy annoying at the time, and not really seeming to further ramp safety any.
Amusing in hindsight, but bl**dy annoying at the time, and not really seeming to further ramp safety any.
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At my local flying club there's a cat that sunbathes on the apron all day long, its a right pain on the arse to taxi around, I was thinking of getting it a reflective yellow coat because it doesnt seem phased by the planes anymore!
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Yust a little while after our "colleague" from crossair had that awfull accident on the ramp in MAN there was an awareness in our company to start wearing those vests. The sad thing is it's not for our safety we have them now but if we didn't wear them(or not having them)the airport authorities (how do you spell this?)would not be liable even if 'they' were at fault thus making our own company picking up the bill. O in the winter it makes for a rain/winter/all-weather coat (thats what our company thinks!)
They trust me with a multi milion dollar plane and load, but can't issue a winter coat.
They trust me with a multi milion dollar plane and load, but can't issue a winter coat.
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Any of U ever landed @ a Russian airport ? U never see any yellow jacket, some people crossing the apron (& sometimes the rwy !) have nothing to do with aviation whatsoever (local farmers, etc). U see animals, kids & a number of other things. The local cleaning babushkas (average age 65) go from one a/c to the next with an old rusty metal bucket & are not bothered by running engines. I took some amazing pictures. We have it good (& safe) here in Europe.
MF
MF
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Main reason I wear them always are some of the idiots that drive around the airfields...almost been knocked over a few times even with a vest on and wouldn't like to think about if I hadn't been wearing one.
Then again on a recent trip a catering van rushed past at quite a speed only 15feet in front... and we were an A320 with a hideously awful and bright tail. If some of the drivers don't notice aircraft what chance have they got seeing a mere person with no stobes/beacon/loud noisy engines etc
Then again on a recent trip a catering van rushed past at quite a speed only 15feet in front... and we were an A320 with a hideously awful and bright tail. If some of the drivers don't notice aircraft what chance have they got seeing a mere person with no stobes/beacon/loud noisy engines etc
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Thanks for your replies, I agree with all the comments. Our company placed the jackets on board each aircraft and the rule still is that they must be worn around the aircraft but not walking cross the tarmac - a distance of around 250 metres. They are now thinking of issueing jackets to be worn at all times airside and we agree with that. We feel that we should probably be driven to the aircraft at all times especially as the airport authority is considering designating a road across our path.
What I need to know is of any airports or authority rules where it is mandatory that crews be driven to the aircraft. All our passengers are bused to the aircraft.
What I need to know is of any airports or authority rules where it is mandatory that crews be driven to the aircraft. All our passengers are bused to the aircraft.
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I'm a fan of yellow jackets. You might look like a fool but it's better than looking like a dead fool with a departure lounge full of people looking at you.
On the subject of cats on aprons, at the airfield I fly out of, the cat is so used to aircraft it didn't decide to get off the sun-drenched wing of a PA28 until I started the engine.....and then taxiied off. Oh yes. I haven't seen it around since that day actually but the local pub did a blinding stew last week...
On the subject of cats on aprons, at the airfield I fly out of, the cat is so used to aircraft it didn't decide to get off the sun-drenched wing of a PA28 until I started the engine.....and then taxiied off. Oh yes. I haven't seen it around since that day actually but the local pub did a blinding stew last week...
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So why don't we ALL wear yellow uniforms?
You can shoot me down in flames and I'm sure you will, especially if you have anything to do with the HSE, but I have to brave the allegedly highly dangerous ramp environment all over the World.
Yes, there are risks like there are just crossing the road.
I may one day be terminated by a careless driver in foreign parts because I was too lazy to wear a yellow vest.
Strange as it may seem to you all, I feel more at risk in the UK obeying the rules.
Worldwide I doubt if there is any statistical evidence of the improved safety benefit of wearing a yellow vest.
So, I'll say it again, if clear visibility is all important, why don't we all have yellow uniforms?
You can shoot me down in flames and I'm sure you will, especially if you have anything to do with the HSE, but I have to brave the allegedly highly dangerous ramp environment all over the World.
Yes, there are risks like there are just crossing the road.
I may one day be terminated by a careless driver in foreign parts because I was too lazy to wear a yellow vest.
Strange as it may seem to you all, I feel more at risk in the UK obeying the rules.
Worldwide I doubt if there is any statistical evidence of the improved safety benefit of wearing a yellow vest.
So, I'll say it again, if clear visibility is all important, why don't we all have yellow uniforms?
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Well, if you ask me, popping on a yellow jacket for 5 minutes is hardly the sort of thing that would make me quit flying altogether. We all know how gimpish rules and regulations can be in the UK but the fashion police won't catch onto this rule for a while so we will all be safe in our yellow jackets.
It'll also save us having to buy one if we get sacked and end up working for BT as well.
It'll also save us having to buy one if we get sacked and end up working for BT as well.
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I can tell you this... when driving a truck around the apron, you have your cognitive abilities targeted on picking out the yellow vests of your coworkers and all and any flashing beacons. A dark pilot suit hiding out in the shadows under the aircraft might be a very blind spot right then and there... :/
If you opt not to wear a reflective vest/jacket, make sure to act as if you haven't been seen at all times - probably a good piece of advice in any case and one that I for one made sure to follow when possible. Take the opportunity to use those VFR skills long forgotten and keep your head on a swivel searching for "low-flying traffic"...
Cheers,
/ft
If you opt not to wear a reflective vest/jacket, make sure to act as if you haven't been seen at all times - probably a good piece of advice in any case and one that I for one made sure to follow when possible. Take the opportunity to use those VFR skills long forgotten and keep your head on a swivel searching for "low-flying traffic"...
Cheers,
/ft
