VIETNAM AIRLINES ENGINE/APUERING CO. LTD.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

PART 4 GENERAL SAFETY. 4.10 WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

4.10. WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

4.10.1 PURPOSE:
To avoid the danger and ensure the safety of maintenance staff, GSE operator,)
and other VAECO staff (hereinafter as VAECO staff) and A/C, ground equipment
(GSE) when working under adverse weather condition.
4.10.2 SCOPE:
These requirements are applied when performing maintenance and maintenance
support activities on the airport apron/ramp and VAECO parking area.
4.10.3 RESPONSIBILITY:
1. Director of MCC is responsible for:
a. Receiving information of adverse weather condition from Operation Control
(NOC, DOC, TOC) and/or airport authorities.
b. Notifying to center/ department which are affected by adverse weather
condition.
c. Notifying Operation Control (NOC, DOC, TOC) the suspension of the certain
ongoing work due to adverse weather condition.
2. Directors of Centers/ Departments are responsible for:
a. Deploying information about adverse weather condition which is received
from MCC and/or airport authorities to their staff who are working on adverse
weather condition.
b. Actively inspect and implement plans to prevent impacts of adverse weather.
Ensuring safety for people, vehicles, works and equipment managed by the
center/ department, ensure safety for maintenance activities.
c. Evaluation the actual condition and information received from airport
authority for reporting to on duty vice CEO/President the final decision for
continuing or suspending the certain ongoing work.
d. Notifying representative of the Operator (except VNA) the suspension of the
certain ongoing work due to adverse weather condition.
3. All VAECO staff are responsible for:
a. Complying with this procedure when working under adverse weather
condition.
b. Evaluating the actual situation and the risk of adverse weather condition to
apply preventive actions as well as to request a permission from managers
to suspend the certain ongoing work.

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 VIETNAM AIRLINES ENGINE/APUERING CO. LTD.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
PART 4 GENERAL SAFETY. 4.10 WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

4.10.4 PROCEDURES
4.10.4.1 Deploying information regarding adverse weather condition
1. MCC is focal point to collect information of adverse weather condition (lightning
ALERT, storms and tropical depressions, thunderstorms, hail, strong winds of
level 6 or higher, gusts of wind or tornado) from Operation Controls (NOC, DOC,
TOC) and/or airport authorities. At outstations, team leaders directly receive
information of adverse weather condition from Operation Controls (NOC, DOC,
TOC) and/or airport authorities to deploy the appropriate action.
2. Base on received information, MCC evaluates affected area and notifies related
departments/ centers.
3. The related departments/ centers deploy these informations to their staff
working on affected areas and have to ensure all their affected staff have
acknowledge receipt of that information.
4. In case, airport’s Authority suspends temporarily all airside operations (airside
operations such as towing, pushback, fueling, disembarking passengers,
boarding, docking, etc…) or a certain one, all staff have to stop their affected
ongoing work, comply with airport requirements, find the safety area (as
specified at each airport or buildings, hangars in VAECO area) and wait for
further announcements.
5. Depending on the actual weather conditions regarding to the possible risks of
adverse weather, maintenance staff can consider to apply suitable protective
equipment/ actions (raincoat, boot, aircraft marshalling wand,…) for itself, or
determine the corresponding lightning warning level based on the counting
method diagram (see 4.10.4.2.2) to make a decision to suspend their works or
report to their manager about the risks to get the final decision to suspend the
works. Nevertheless, the staff have to report to their manager about the
suspension.
4.10.4.2 Working in thunderstorm, lightning
1. Lightning warning levels
Applicable for the airport has an integrated notification system
LEVEL ACTION
Amber ALERT Disseminate lightning warning to
Lightning activity is detected at a airside operating staff so they can
distance in not excess of 8 km (5 prepare and plan their activities to
miles) from your operation be ready in case of the RED Alert in
accordance with local Regulatory
requirements.

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 VIETNAM AIRLINES ENGINE/APUERING CO. LTD.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
PART 4 GENERAL SAFETY. 4.10 WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

Red-STOP/SUSPEND Disseminate the order to stop all

Lightning activity is detected with
in 5km (3 miles) of your operation
Green – ALL CLEAR
Lightning activity has moved beyond
5 km (3 miles) and is heading away
from your operation.
airside activities and seek shelter to
all airside operating staff.
Disseminate the order to resume
normal activities to all airside
operating staff.

2. Counting method to estimate the level of lightning activity:

Note: The time indicated is the time between the lightning and the sound of
thunder.
a. If the counted time is less than 15 seconds, the lightning activity is less than
5 km from the airport.
b. If the counted time is between 15 seconds and 25 seconds the lightning
activity is between 5 and 8 km from the airport.

3. When receiving an ALERT about thunderstorm, lightning, all VAECO staff:

a. Make preparation for the STOP/ CLOSING phase.
b. Identify safe and unsafe areas in the workplace.
c. Stay in safe areas if there is no essential job in open areas.
d. Stop the work being done on high area.

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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
PART 4 GENERAL SAFETY. 4.10 WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

e. Fueling operations can continue, however the proximity of the

thunderstorm/lightning should be continually monitored.
f. Ensuring any staff using or about to use headsets are informed of the alert.
g. Restricting activities in unsafe areas, at risk of lightning (open space, under
tall trees; metal structures: aircraft, metal fence, light pole, ladder car ...).
h. Avoid using highly conductive equipment.
4. Upon receiving notification of airport closure from authorities or shutdown or
STOP due to lightning from the airline. All aircraft doors must be closed, all
VAECO staff who are working on airport area or VAECO parking area adhere
to the following requirements:
a. Stop outdoor maintenance activities, including:
 Stop aircraft movement (push-back, towing, etc…)
 Stop all Ground Service Equipment, disconnect the GSE from the A/C (if
connected), remove GSE from A/C area and pack at designate area.
b. Do not connect or disconnect the headset and stop any communication using
the headset connected to aircraft.
c. Stop external servicing operations (refueling, toilet and potable water
servicing…).
d. Find a safety area.
e. Do not touch metal parts of aircraft or equipment.
f. Close all aircraft doors.
g. Do not use a head set connected to aircraft.
h. Do not use portable electronic devices like mobile phones, pagers, two-way
radios in open areas or in front of windows.
i. Do not get out of a closed vehicle if you are inside.
j. Do not use hand-held electrical equipment: mobile phone when outdoors or
near a window.
k. Do not stay under aircraft, canopy, or near metal equipment.
4.10.4.3 Working in winter or slippery apron conditions
Winter weather bring extra hazards which require awareness and more care on
the part of personnel working on the aprons to prevent accidents. The following
precautions to reduce accident risk must be taken:
1. Plan additional time for all ramp activities and take extra care when walking
across apron surface which can be slippery.
2. Take extra care when driving, especially approaching the aircraft. Remember
the vehicles require greater distance to stop safety.
3. Operators of portable water tankers and toilet servicing vehicles must be vigilant
that there is no spillage or leakage that can lead to subsequent freezing. Care
must be taken to keep spillage and overflow to a minimum.

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 VIETNAM AIRLINES ENGINE/APUERING CO. LTD.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
PART 4 GENERAL SAFETY. 4.10 WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

4. Close all entrance and cargo hold doors as soon as possible and keep them
closed to avoid precipitation or slow entry into the aircraft.
5. Reduce speeds in slippery apron conditions. Adjust all activities and operations
on the ramp to suit the conditions at the time.
4.10.4.4 Working when heavy rain or fog occurs, the visibility is lower than 800m
1. The vehicle's rotating lights must be on.
2. Ground vehicles turn on low beam and fog lights to signal to other vehicles and
slow down when traveling.
3. Ground vehicles must take extra caution at all intersection and vehicle/apron
taxi lane crossings.
4. Ground service equipment are only allowed to move when absolutely
necessary.
5. Crossing of taxiways, where permitted, should only be undertaken with ATC
clearance.
4.10.4.5 Working in strong winds
Depending on the wind velocity, the following actions must be taken:
37km/h 75km/h 93km/h 110km/h
20KT 40KT 50KT 60KT

Aircraft safety No limitation Aircraft doors must be kept RISK OF DOORS

tight, cargo doors and cockpit DAMAGE
windows must be closed. ALL DOORS MUST BE
CLOSED
- An aircraft must be chocked with front, rear wheels and
parking brakes in working condition to ensure that the
aircraft is held firmly.
- Aircraft configure must be complied with AMM for each
aircraft type to ensure aircraft safety.
- Foreign objects (plastic bags, paper, light objects ...)
must be collected and placed in containers. Garbage
containers in aircraft parking areas must be secured or
collected in a safe place.
- Suspension of refueling of aircraft.
GSE safety Keep parking GSE at - Remove all unnecessary ground equipment from the
designated places aircraft.
- All ground equipment must be relocated to designated
parking positions, away from aircraft
- Ground equipment must be chocked and applied
parking brake (if any).
Towing Allowed on dry ground Towing prohibited
(empty aircraft)
Allowed on wet ground Towing prohibited

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 VIETNAM AIRLINES ENGINE/APUERING CO. LTD.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
PART 4 GENERAL SAFETY. 4.10 WORKING UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION

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