Does Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 require a common frequency for vehicle drivers, air traffic control (ATC), and pilots, the so-called 'Triple One' concept?
Answer
No, Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 does not require a common frequency to be used by vehicle drivers, air traffic control (ATC), and pilots when operating on the runway. Even if the aerodrome continues to use a separate Ground/ATC frequency in the national language, English language proficiency can be considered beneficial as it can increase safety by improving situational awareness and by allowing vehicle drivers to understand safety-critical information provided in English.
Some airports in the European Union have found solutions where vehicle drivers can either listen to the ATC frequency at all times or only in certain high-risk scenarios (accessing the runway).
During an emergency situation, English language proficiency is considered beneficial for aviation safety. For more information on the safety benefits, please see NPA 2018-14. For an overview of the different practices regarding frequencies and their use, please refer to a recent study commissioned by EASA on the Triple One Concept Implementation.