What should you do when leaving your vehicle unattended on the airfield?

When leaving your vehicle unattended on the airfield, it is crucial to prioritize safety and security. Turning off the engine and setting the parking brake is the best practice in this situation because it ensures that the vehicle will not accidentally roll away, which could pose a danger to both personnel and aircraft operations.

Turning off the engine also reduces the risk of any potential fire hazards and prevents environmental contamination from fuel emissions. Setting the parking brake is essential to ensure that the vehicle remains stationary, especially in windy conditions or on inclines.

Other practices, such as leaving the windows down, keeping the keys in the ignition, or parking on grass are risky. Leaving windows down can expose the interior to theft or vandalism, while leaving the keys in the ignition increases the chance of unauthorized use of the vehicle. Parking on grass may violate airfield regulations and create obstacles in operational areas. Therefore, turning off the engine and setting the parking brake represents the responsible way to ensure the safety and security of the vehicle and the airfield environment.