Distinctive yellow airside safety vehicles are replacing the plain white utes (utility vehicles) that have been used at Brisbane Airport for decades.
Brisbane Airport (BNE) has ten airside safety vehicles. A team of 28 airside safety officers monitor the facility 2/7 – at any one time, five to eight airside safety vehicles are on duty.
“There is an obvious safety benefit [to the change in colour]. The striking yellow design is far more visible when viewed across the airfield, from the air traffic control tower or from aircraft. We also want to differentiate ourselves from the dozens of other white service vehicles that operate across the airport,” said Brisbane Airport Corporation head of airside operations Peter Dunlop.
“We do not want to blend in. Our aim is to stand out and really be that powerful safety reminder right across Brisbane Airport.”
The yellow vehicles will be gradually rolled out across the BNE fleet. The new paint scheme also includes larger numbers for easy identification, for situations where pilots are asked to follow specific vehicles.
“The idea for the colour change came from our safety officers, who are passionate about safety at Brisbane Airport, so they’re really excited to see the brand-new vehicles arrive,” Dunlop added.
The airside safety officers and their vehicles conduct inspections of runways, taxiways, aprons, and the tarmac, collect foreign objects which may pose a danger to aircraft, and provide "follow-me" assistance for aircraft during poor weather conditions or to pilots unfamiliar with the airport. They also help deter wildlife from runways and taxiways, and enforce compliance of safety standards across the airport.
Among the items carries by all Brisbane Airport airside safety vehicles are radios, strobe lights, sirens and snake handling equipment.
Image: Brisbane Airport Corporation
