Flightline driving: Common sense keeps everyone safe

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  It is important that RAF Mildenhall Airmen and civilians driving on the flightline know the correct speed limits, and procedures for correctly crossing the runway. There have been instances in the past where some have been caught speeding or crossing the active taxiway without permission from the tower, and those doing it may think that they can't be seen. But beware - anyone doing it, will be caught.

Airmen with the 100th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management Operations Flight have increased their presence on the runway, and are cracking down on speeding and crossing runways without permission. The team is responsible for checking that everyone driving on the flightline has a valid driving license and AF IMT 483, Certificate of Competency, which must be validated by airfield management for flightline driving at RAF Mildenhall.

Throughout the day, they regularly patrol the flightline, randomly stopping government vehicles and ensuring drivers have the proper paperwork.

Normally, most of the individuals stopped are authorized to drive a government vehicle on the flightline; however, finding individuals driving without the proper documentation does occur, said Tech. Sgt. Rachel Castrovinci, 100th OSS Airfield Management Operations NCO in charge.

"We're specifically looking for people breaking the rules," she said. "Either we catch them or others bring it to our attention."

Castrovinci said there are consequences for anyone caught.

"Besides that person's chain of command being notified, the information gets brought up at the quarterly Airfield Operations Board meeting, in front of the [100th Air Refueling Wing] vice commander," she said. "It also gets forwarded up to [U.S. Air Forces in Europe].

"That's in addition to the license being suspended and a possible ban from driving on the flightline. It isn't going to go down well with the squadron commander when somebody else has to do the job of [the violater] if they can no longer take care of their job because of their actions," Castrovinci said.

Speeding is another area of concern for airfield management. The maximum speed limit for a vehicle driving on the flightline area is 15 mph. Offenders will lose their license for seven to 14 days.

A second offense increases the loss of license to 14 to 30 days, while a third results in a complete loss of driving privileges on the flightline for the rest of the person's time at RAF Mildenhall.

The most hazardous violation of flightline driving procedure is crossing the active runway or controlled movement area, as it endangers both resources and lives.

"Crossing the CMA without permission from the tower is both dangerous and illegal," said Castrovinci. "Folks at the tower will check there are no incoming aircraft and allow you to cross if it is safe to do so, and if you have an official reason. Crossing a CMA for convenience or as a short cut is not allowed.

"Ultimately, it could end in a loss of resources and worst case, loss of life. Just one call to the tower, as well as taking the time to use your situational awareness, could save all that trouble," she said.

Privately-owned vehicles are not authorized to be driven anywhere on the flightline. The only exceptions to this are for personnel having a POV airfield pass which they require for their job, or if they require crossing at one of the three authorized points on the flightline.

For more information, call airfield management operations at DSN 238-4130.