Vanquishing the V/PD

2nd Quarter 2017

A quarterly publication from the

Safety Section

Federal Aviation Administration Airports Division

Western-Pacific Region

This publication is directed primarily towards airport management to be disseminated to 

all levels of personnel working at your airfield. Vanquishing the V/PD can be 

accomplished through a solid partnership between the FAA and airport management. The 

responsibility of making sure that the proper safeguards are in place; however, lies 

squarely on the shoulders of airport management. Please use this information and all that 

follows as a guide by which to provide a safer environment at your airfield.

Airfield Operations personnel have a demanding job under normal circumstances. That

job becomes more demanding when fog or other inclement meteorological conditions 

reduce the visibility at your airport. When visibility is reduced it not only becomes more 

difficult for Airfield Operations personnel to perform normal duties like aircraft escorts 

but it also becomes very difficult to perform special duties like low visibility runway 

lighting checks. Low visibility conditions can disorient even the most seasoned Airfield 

Operations professional and increase the likelihood of that person becoming involved in a 

runway incursion. 

When inclement weather occurs at your airport, please follow the low visibility driving 

tips offered below:

 Whether your airport advocates runway inspections be conducted with the flow of 

aircraft traffic or opposed to the flow of aircraft traffic, begin the inspection from 

the same taxiway/runway location each time. Be logical and consistent. Not 

every airport is equipped with surface detection equipment and in low visibility 

conditions the Air Traffic control Tower (ATCT) may not have visual contact 

with your vehicle. Beginning your runway inspection from the same location 

will provide a level of confidence that your entry point to the runway(s) will not 

cause ambiguity in the tower regarding what runway you are requesting 
clearance into and what your direction of travel will be. Remember that if the 

reported visibility is 2 SM and/or less than 800 foot ceiling, the vehicle must be 

clear of any ILS critical areas. In your communications with the ATCT, be sure 

to include both the runway you are requesting clearance onto and taxiway 

designation of your location.

 Conduct all low visibility lighting inspections in the direction of travel from 

which they will be used by the aircraft.

 If facing inbound aircraft between parallel runways from a common connector 

taxiway, remember runway designations for left/right runways are now reversed 

in regards to driver orientation. Therefore, if cleared onto runway 28R do not 

make the mistake of making a right hand turn onto the incorrect runway 28L.

 Complacency leads to uncertainty. If, while on the runway in low visibility 

conditions, the ATCT suddenly amends your clearance, the complacent driver 

cannot react immediately to comply with the amended clearance. Likewise, if the 

ATCT asks your position, the complacent driver cannot reply with an immediate 

and accurate position report.

 During low visibility runway inspections always have an airport diagram in hand 

regardless of how experienced you are. Very few Airfield Operations personnel 

have committed the airport’s entire sign and marking plan to memory.

 Always know your location on the runway in relation to the next available 

taxiway exit (both left and right) in case the tower amends your clearance and 

instructs you to exit the runway at a specific taxiway. 

 Utilize service roads as much as possible and avoid unnecessary travel on 

runways and taxiways unless absolutely necessary.

 Roll down windows of the vehicle and listen for aircraft approaching your 

vicinity.

 If you become disoriented, clear the runway or taxiway and request assistance.

 Listen to the ATCT and develop a mental picture of aircraft locations both 

airborne and on the ground. 

 Develop a proficiency log for personnel who conduct low visibility runway 

checks. If you have not performed runway checks driven in low visibility 

conditions within a specified period of time, drive with a supervisor or 

coordinator who is current in low visibility conditions.

Care and caution are two strategies that will help Airfield Operations personnel from 

inadvertently straying onto a runway while performing tasks on the airfield during low 

visibility conditions. Runway incursions are serious in high visibility conditions but 

might be catastrophic in low visibility conditions.

 

Column written by:

Steven Oetzell

Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector, AWP-620.6

Reproductions of this, past and subsequent issues of Vanquishing the VPD are available 

on FAAWebsite: http://www.faa.gov/airports/western_pacific/newsletter/