The UK has undergone significant changes in airside vehicle livery safety standards throughout the years and PVL has been helping to lead the way.
Airside is a busy place at any airport and so airside vehicles must have complete visibility day & night and in all weather conditions. Over the past decade or so, UK civil aviation has significantly tightened vehicle livery safety standards to improve visibility and prevent accidents. The development of improved safety measures for airside vehicles resulted from regulatory modifications by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European legislators together with updated airport operator guidelines and safety incident insights. Industry leaders such as PVL UK together with other organisations developed innovative high-visibility livery systems which assist airports in meeting regulatory standards while improving operational safety.
2014: European Rules Mandate Conspicuous Airside Vehicles
The EU introduced major changes to aerodrome safety regulations throughout Europe in 2014. The EU implemented Commission Regulation (EU) No. 139/2014 which contained mandatory specifications regarding the marking and lighting of vehicles operating airside. Under ADR.OPS.B.080 of this regulation, all regular airside vehicles had to be made conspicuous – either painted in high-visibility colours or fitted with distinctive flags/markings (e.g. checkered flags) – so they can be readily seen by pilots and controllers.
Airside vehicle livery received its first standardised Europe-wide regulation through this rule. As the UK was part of EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) at that time, the CAA started adapting national guidance to meet these standards. The UK had already followed a long-standing practice of using bright-coloured vehicles (mainly yellow) for airside operations to enhance visibility from the air and ground.
The 2014 EU regulations recommended that vehicles on movement area should have conspicuous paint colours (ideally yellow). Regulatory Article 3267 legally established this principle which had previously been recommended by regulators. The UK airport sector began implementing these new requirements. The mid-decade period brought an expectation that all vehicles performing regular runway, taxiway and apron duties needed to display both high-visibility markings and lighting systems. The implementation of reflective tapes and brightly coloured paint and company logos on vehicles for identification purposes became mandatory. According to CAA guidance vehicles must display their operator’s name in a prominent way and through distinctive livery to ensure instant identification by air traffic control or ramp personnel. The new EU rules made conspicuity a mandatory safety requirement instead of an optional standard.
2015–2017: Implementation and Industry Best Practices
UK airports dedicated their time from 2015 to 2017 to both standard implementation and the exchange of best practices. All licensed aerodromes had to comply with the EU regulation by the end of 2017, when EASA’s transition period ended.
The CAA collaborated with airports throughout this period to modify their Aerodrome Manuals and Airside Operating Procedures according to the new regulatory requirements. CAA CAP 642 “Airside Safety Management” served as an essential guidance document for the management of airside safety.
The framework for airside hazard management outlined in CAP 642 first appeared in the 1990s and it also emphasised vehicle identification and conspicuity requirements. Airside vehicles were expected to display clear company livery and obstruction lights when operating in aircraft movement areas according to aerodrome operator requirements.
Industry groups and trade associations also stepped up to help interpret and go beyond the minimum rules. Notably, the UK’s Reflective Equipment Manufacturers Association (REMA) formed a “Vehicle Conspicuity” working group to issue practical guidance for airport vehicle markings. PVL were at the forefront of this working group.
Their recommendations combined Regulation 104 UN/ECE (originally used for truck retro-reflective markings) with UK Department for Transport’s Chapter 8 high-visibility markings which were used on highway maintenance vehicles before being adopted for airside application.
The logic was to leverage the most reflective materials available in the market. REMA’s recommendations emphasised using high-performance microprismatic materials with class R3B reflectivity to ensure vehicles would stand out visually in all lighting conditions.
The main objective focused on reducing collisions by using retro-reflective materials that returned observed light to approaching vehicles thus making their dimensions and forms clear and easy to identify. During this period airports adopted standardised practices which included retro-reflective chevron markings on vehicle rears together with continuous reflective contour markings on vehicle sides and rooftop identification markings to enable tower controllers and pilots in large aircraft to spot vehicles against apron floodlighting.
Airports started to share ideas through forums while examining cases from one another. Birmingham Airport conducted a complete redesign of its Airfield Safety Unit vehicle livery during this time. The new design implemented on their Volvo XC60 safety vehicles were bright reflective and fluorescent markings (Battenburg block pattern) that covered the sides, rear and roof to maximise visibility.
The addition of roof markings proved essential because it made vehicles visible from both airborne perspectives and control tower views. This complete high-visibility livery system established itself as the standard safety marking for large airports.
Various airports performed similar updates to their vehicle markings which made all tarmac vehicles detectable by other vehicles and pilots. PVL actively participated in the industry movement for better safety markings throughout the period from 2015 to 2017. As the UK’s leading reflective vehicle livery supplier, PVL applied its expert emergency services livery and highways safety experience to serve civil aviation. PVL collaborated with REMA to develop a new guideline document.
These best-practice guides presented elevated performance standards which recommended R3B microprismatic materials as standard. The message promoted by PVL made it clear that appropriately designed livery kits made from best performing and durable materials would prevent fatalities.
Ground handling operators together with airports began adopting PVL and other specialist companies to supply and implement compliant livery kits. A few airports such as Coventry and Newquay decided to collaborate with PVL for enhancing reflective Battenburg markings on their airfield firefighting vehicles even before 2014. Their vehicles had previously had no reflective elements and PVL’s quick implementation in 2012 enhanced the night and daytime visibility of those vehicles. Such early projects established the base for the extensive vehicle upgrades that occurred in the latter part of the decade.
2018: CAP 642 Revision and a Safety Wake-Up Call
2018 brought major changes for UK airside vehicle safety markings. The CAA published a comprehensive revision of CAP 642 “Airside Safety Management” which marked the first major update in many years.
The updated CAP 642 Issue 3 introduced new guidelines about aircraft turnarounds and safety management systems together with stronger standards for vehicles. The updated version of CAP 642 makes identification on vehicles mandatory by requiring both company liveries and operator names be displayed prominently on both sides.
Any vehicle that requires an Airside Vehicle Permit must also have an obstruction light with specified European (now UK) standards compliance. The CAA updated its guidelines to match international best practices thus establishing the UK as a leader in vehicle conspicuity regulations worldwide by 2018.
Tragically, 2018 also underpinned just why these rules are so critical, through a disastrous incident. In February 2018, a fatal accident occurred at Heathrow Airport involving two airside vehicles. A British Airways engineering van (a Renault Kangoo) was crossing an active taxiway in darkness when it was struck side-on by a Heathrow operations Toyota Hilux pickup traveling at about 40 mph. The BA van’s driver, John Coles, unfortunately, sustained fatal injuries. In the aftermath, the CAA’s investigation team determined that the Hilux driver “had not seen” the smaller van in time.
The crossing was what’s known as an “uncontrolled” crossing – lacking traffic lights or ATC clearance requirement – so the onus was on drivers to visually avoid conflicts with other vehicles. A coroner’s inquest later found that background visual clutter on the airfield contributed to the Hilux driver’s failure to spot the white van. In other words, amid the maze of floodlights, signage, amber beacons, painted lines, and other vehicles, a small white van did not stand out sufficiently. This tragedy was a wake-up call regarding airside vehicle visibility. It highlighted that even with regulations in place, gaps remained – for example, the BA van apparently had no high-vis colouring or lighting that caught the other driver’s attention in time. The incident prompted both Heathrow and the CAA to scrutinise whether additional safety measures (like improved vehicle liveries, lighting, and perhaps smarter crossing controls) were needed to prevent a recurrence.
In the immediate aftermath of the February 2018 collision, Heathrow Airport reviewed its procedures and vehicle equipment. While formal recommendations took a few years (as the legal inquest process unfolded), the event already influenced industry thinking. Many airports redoubled efforts to enforce speed limits, install higher-performing warning lights on vehicles, and ensure that all vehicles including contractors’ vans had amber beacons and company logos when airside.
The Heathrow incident was often cited in safety workshops as a worst-case example of how “see and be seen” can be a literal lifesaver on the apron. It also reinforced the importance of human factors: training drivers to be aware of “change blindness” (failing to notice an object that blends into a familiar background) and to never assume another vehicle or aircraft has spotted them.
2023: Incident Inquest Spurs New Standards
A critical development emerged in 2023 with the conclusion of the 2018 Heathrow fatality coroner’s inquest. The West London coroner issued a formal Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths to Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) in July 2023 after completing the review of all evidence from February 2018. The report emphasised that vehicles became less noticeable against the apron background because of visual distractions and demanded additional safety measures. The coroner observed that the small white vans operated by British Airways became hard to spot when they moved through the busy airport area. The suggestion recommended adding side-profile lighting and better markings to these vehicles for better runway and taxiway crossing visibility. The coroner required Heathrow Airport to lead the initiative by working with its operators (including BA) and regulators to stop another fatalaccident from happening.
Heathrow presented its response during August 2023 to detail its full strategy for upgrading airside vehicle visibility standards and this approach will likely guide other UK airport implementations. In June 2025 Heathrow published Operational Safety Instruction OSI008 setting out new standards for retroreflective airside livery. Although Heathrow-specific these initiatives will serve as a pilot which might yet become standard protocols across other airports. British Airways Engineering and Heathrow engaged with PVL to manage the roll out of upgrading vehicle safety markings for their airside fleet in a number of airports.
British Airways Engineering’s Operations Manager offered, “PVL has become a trusted and valued partner”.
Other UK airports, especially the big hubs, may proactively implement similar requirements to stay ahead on safety. Moreover, the CAA could incorporate some of these practices into future CAP 642 guidance updates or aerodrome licensing conditions if they prove effective.
It’s worth noting that REMA’s Airport Airside Fleet Marking Guide (2023) mentioned by Heathrow was developed with input from PVL UK and other industry experts. This guide presumably provides templates and examples of how to apply continuous reflective markings, what classes of material to use, etc., tailored for airport scenarios.
The fact that Heathrow explicitly references it shows how influential such industry guides have become in setting de-facto standards.
PVL UK’s Role in Advancing Airside Vehicle Visibility
Throughout the last decades safety enhancements, PVL UK has been at the forefront of implementing and advocating improved airside vehicle liveries. PVL has used its 25+ years of high-visibility livery expertise (specialising in police, ambulance, highway, and airport fleet supply) to advance safety through both practical and policy interventions.
Industry Leadership and Expertise: PVL is an active member of REMA’s Vehicle Conspicuity group, giving it a voice in setting industry guidelines. This is a prime example of PVL using its know-how to raise the bar for safety – a benefit that extends to airside vehicle marking (many airport vehicles now use the same R3B microprismatic tapes originally developed for Chapter 8 highway use, as recommended by REMA.
Supplying Compliance Solutions: When regulations changed or airports initiated upgrades, PVL was there to supply the needed livery kits and materials. For instance, after CAP 642 (2018) emphasised obstruction lights and clear identification, PVL ensured its products (reflective decals, chevron kits, etc.) met the CAA specifications. PVL offers full Regulation 139/2014-compliant solutions helping airport operators quickly retrofit vehicles to standard.
Because PVL also serves emergency services, it was well prepared to deliver Battenburg and chevron markings to airport fleets when those patterns were in favour. A case in point: Newquay Cornwall Airport’s Fire & Rescue Service needed to improve the visibility of its foam tender vehicles which lacked reflectives; PVL provided and installed custom Battenburg kits on those trucks within days, greatly enhancing their night-time recognisability. The airport’s Senior Watch Manager praised PVL’s efficient, professional service and the “great results” achieved. This early adoption of high-vis livery at Newquay (and similarly at Coventry Airport’s fire unit) demonstrated the life-saving potential of proper vehicle markings – enabled by PVL.
Innovation in Livery Design: PVL has continually innovated in how reflective materials are used on vehicles. It pioneered the use of fluorescent yellow-green (lime) reflective vinyls in UK emergency fleets, which later found their way onto airside vehicles for maximum contrast. It also developed techniques for wrapping complex shapes (including lightly damaged vehicles). By investing in digital printing and precision cutting technology, PVL can produce kits that maintain a vehicle’s branding and add safety markings without clutter. This was crucial in the late 2010s as airlines and ground handlers wanted to incorporate logos alongside mandatory high-vis patterns. PVL’s ability to integrate the two meant vehicles could be both compliant and brand-consistent – for example, a dispatcher’s van could carry the airline’s logo in reflective film and still have the required contrast colouring and stripes.
Collaboration with Airports: Over the decade, PVL has collaborated with numerous UK airports and airport service companies. At London Gatwick, for example, PVL supplied airside operations vehicles with improved chevron liveries when Gatwick revamped its fleet. At TAG Farnborough Airport (a busy business aviation airfield), PVL was brought in to design and wrap safety and security vehicles; the airport’s operations team lauded the quality of PVL’s work and continued to partner with them for future needs.
And when large airport groups (like AGS Airports, which owns Aberdeen, Glasgow, Southampton) needed consistent fleet visibility, specialists including PVL were on hand to deliver reflective logo decals and “tiger stripe” patterns that complied with each airport’s safety standards. This breadth of involvement means PVL has insight into the specific livery standards or preferences at each airport and can cross-pollinate best practices. If one airport finds success with a certain style of marking, PVL can offer that solution to others.
Adapting to New Standards: 2023 brought new directions like the move away from Battenburg to diagonal stripes at Heathrow. PVL is well-positioned to support such transitions. The company has experience with both Battenburg (a pattern it has produced for years for police and airport fire services) and diagonal safety stripes (commonly used on highway and construction vehicles).
If airports decide to follow Heathrow’s lead in adopting simpler high-vis patterns, PVL can rapidly design and deploy those liveries – ensuring consistency across fleets during the changeover. In addition, PVL’s intimate knowledge of material performance means it can recommend the right combination of fluorescent background and retro-reflective overlay to achieve the desired conspicuity in diagonal form. This consultative role – helping airports implement new safety mandates effectively – is a hallmark of PVL’s commitment.
In summary, PVL UK’s contributions over the past decade have been integral to the overall improvement in airside vehicle safety. The company has not only supplied the tangible products (lights, tapes, liveries) that make vehicles more visible but also participated in the thought leadership that continues to shape emerging standards.
PVL’s ethos aligns perfectly with the industry’s culture of safety: anticipate risks, apply technology and design to mitigate those risks, and share knowledge for the greater good. The result is that many of the fluorescent patterns and reflective configurations now common at UK airports carry PVL’s fingerprints – either literally, through products installed, or indirectly through its influence on guidelines.
If you run an airside fleet and would like to discuss your livery needs, then get in touch with one of our airside vehicle safety marking specialists today on +44 (0) 1444 258980
