When should ground equipment brakes be tested?

Testing ground equipment brakes is essential for ensuring safety during operations. The correct timing for this testing is when crossing safety clearance lines or 15 feet when no safety clearance lines are present. This practice helps prevent accidents or incidents that could occur if equipment were to roll or move unexpectedly in areas where personnel are working or when maneuvering near an aircraft.

Conducting brake tests at this critical point ensures that the equipment is under control before entering designated safety zones where the risk of injury to ground personnel or damage to the aircraft increases. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining operational safety standards in a dynamic and often crowded airport environment, where clearances and the positioning of equipment around aircraft must be carefully managed.

The other options—testing brakes when starting engines, before loading cargo, or when parked at the terminal—do not align with the specific situational hazards present when crossing safety clearance lines or the designated distance. These situations are less likely to result in immediate safety concerns compared to moving through critical operational zones.