Airfield driving safety

  • Published
  • 19th Operations Support Squadron airfield management

Airfield management is charged with providing a safe efficient and effective airfield. Doing that requires a no-days-off mentality.

When driving on the airfield Airmen must maintain constant vigilance. Their actions could be the difference between an ordinary day and a catastrophe. The airfield is one of, if not the most, intense and possibly dangerous areas on base. There is no room for complacency or misinformation.

Airfield management supervises the airfield driving program for 27 units. The program ensures Airmen have proper training on driving procedures, tower light gun signals, and airfield diagrams, as well as how to drive around aircraft, and how to properly use radio phraseology.

Those who have been around airfields tend to think they know all of the regulations and there's nothing to learn. The airfield is a fluid and ever changing environment, so there is always more to learn.

Airfield management personnel conduct random inspections on airfield drivers daily. We check licenses and ensure drivers are following proper airfield driving procedures.

Our objective is not to bust people; it is to make sure people are following procedures, which includes having proper documentation. If they don't have it, they will be escorted off the airfield regardless of rank or title. It’s all about safety and security.

The most common infractions here at LRAFB are drivers not having their airfield driver’s license (AF IMT 483), it being expired, or drivers not knowing that you need a license to drive on flight line road.

Incidents at other bases have added to the increased emphasis on airfield driving safety.

Being knowledgeable about airfield driving regulations is the key to being safe on the airfield. All base personnel who work on or near the flight line should have at least general knowledge of airfield operations or know to contact airfield management at (501) 987-6123 or (501) 987-6840 if they have questions.