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Cleveland airport board seeks formal SOP for ground-vehicle and mower operations
Summary
The airport board discussed recent runway incursions involving mowers and authorized vehicles and recommended formalizing a standard operating procedure; airport manager said he has drafted an SOP and will begin training public works staff.
The Cleveland Airport Advisory Board on Sept. 4 recommended that the city formalize standard operating procedures for authorized vehicles and mowing operations on airport property after repeated safety incidents.
Dean McFarland, chairman of the Cleveland Airport Advisory Board, led discussion of safety concerns that arose from earlier incidents in which mowers or vehicle operations conflicted with aircraft operations. Eric, airport manager, told the board he has “established an SOP for grass cutting operations” and that a NOTAM has been published for mowing activity through Nov. 1 to notify users.
The draft SOP described by Eric includes a training program for public‑works personnel, a radio communications plan so ground crews can monitor traffic, and a system for coordinating with pilots when mowing or other maintenance will occur. “We are doing training now…we are still needing equipment…we have come up with a communication system,” Eric said, adding he will circulate the draft to the board.
Board members urged that the procedures be codified so future managers and staff follow the same guidance. One board member said the board’s role is to identify the need and that the city’s administration or public‑works staff would be responsible for producing a final, council‑approved policy. Recognizing that the item had been presented previously as discussion-only, members agreed the draft SOP should be distributed for review and placed on a future agenda for recommendation to the city council if needed.
The board did not adopt a final policy at the meeting; members and staff described the outcome as direction to finalize the SOP, circulate it to board members, and return it for possible formal recommendation to the council at a later meeting. Eric said he would provide the draft to board members “first thing tomorrow morning.”
Board discussion also emphasized recordkeeping for trained personnel: Eric said he will maintain a certificate for each public‑works employee who completes the runway‑entry training.
