What should a vehicle operator do when approaching an aircraft?

When approaching an aircraft, the appropriate action for a vehicle operator is to stop and yield to the aircraft. This is critical for safety within the airport environment, as aircraft have the right of way on the airside. By stopping and yielding, vehicle operators ensure that they do not interfere with the aircraft’s movements, which could pose a significant hazard for both the aircraft and the vehicle. This protocol is a fundamental part of airside operations, designed to maintain a safe and orderly flow of traffic on the airfield.

The other actions, such as accelerating to pass quickly, sounding the horn repeatedly, or maintaining the same speed, could disrupt the safe operation of the airport. Accelerating may increase the risk of an incident, while sounding the horn can be misleading and may confuse aircraft crew members, who are trained to listen for specific signals in their environment. Maintaining the same speed does not account for the proximity and operational priority of the aircraft, which must be prioritized for safety.