What is the protocol for parking a vehicle near an aircraft with a manual transmission?

The correct protocol for parking a vehicle near an aircraft with a manual transmission is to leave it in reverse. When a vehicle is parked in reverse, it helps prevent the vehicle from rolling away if the parking brake were to fail. This is especially important in the context of an airfield, where safety is paramount, and a moving vehicle can pose a significant risk to aircraft, other vehicles, and personnel.

Parking in reverse effectively uses the engine's compression resistance, which offers an additional layer of security against unintentional movement. It is crucial to always engage the parking brake in conjunction, as this provides the primary means of securing the vehicle in place.

Other options, like leaving the vehicle in park, in the lowest gear, or in neutral do not provide the same level of security. "Park" is typically associated with automatic transmissions and isn’t applicable here. Leaving the vehicle in neutral does not engage any gears to prevent rolling, and while the lowest gear could be used in some contexts, it is not as effective as reverse in terms of preventing unintentional movement in a manual transmission.