What steps should you take to ensure a safe drive around a parked aircraft?

• A. Speed up to pass quickly.
• B. Keep a normal speed and ignore blind spots.
• C. Maintain distance, avoid blind spots, use spotter if necessary, avoid blocking ground crew.
• D. Wait until the aircraft leaves the area.

Answer: (C)

Safety around parked aircraft hinges on three actions: maintain a safe distance from the aircraft, stay out of its blind spots, and use a spotter if your visibility or maneuvering requires guidance. Keeping space prevents contact with wings, tails, or engine intakes and protects you from unexpected jet blast or prop wash. Avoiding blind spots ensures neither you nor the aircraft crew misses each other’s movements, which is crucial in tight ramps. If visibility is limited or you’re navigating around equipment, a spotter helps guide you and keeps you from inadvertently blocking ground crews who are refueling, marshalling, or servicing the aircraft. Blocking those crews creates dangerous delays and hazards, so coordinating movement is essential. Speeding past or ignoring blind spots offers no safety benefit and can cause serious accidents, while waiting indefinitely for the aircraft to leave isn’t a reliable safety strategy when work is ongoing. Following these steps keeps everyone on the ground safe and operations running smoothly.