Training promotes airfield safety

Photo By Sgt. Jonathan Thibault | Terry Dover, BAAF operations supervisor and flight line driver training instructor teaches flight line driver training to 4th Combat Aviation Brigade air crews and aircraft maintainers at the BAAF Flight Simulator Building on Fort Carson, Colo., July 2, 2015. (Photo by Sgt. Jonathan C. Thibault, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division/Released)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

07.02.2015

Story by Sgt. Jonathan Thibault 

4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT CARSON, Colo. - Driving safely can be challenging; driving with more than 100 aircraft trying to take off and land at any point in time is risky business, if the driver is not knowledgeable of flight operations.

Butts Army Airfield Tower office held flight line driver training for 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, air crews and aircraft maintainers at the BAAF Flight Simulator Building on Fort Carson July 2.

"Flight Line Driver Training is familiarization training for personnel operating in and around the airfield," said Terry Dover, BAAF operations supervisor and flight line driver training instructor. "We want any one working with aircraft and maneuvering around the airfield to do so safely."

Dover said that this training is required and is necessary to keep Soldiers on the ground, and air crews safe when moving around BAAF.

"We have aircraft landing, hovering, and taking off all the time," said Dover. "If a Soldier is not orientated to layout of the airfield, an incident could happen. An example would be a person unknowingly occupying a restricted area and an aircraft needs to make an emergency landing. We don't always have the ability to contact that person and this training prevents these types of incidents from happening."

The driver training is for operators of mechanized and self-propelled vehicles.

"The training is for anyone going back and forth to the aircraft," said Dover. "This can be on four-wheeled vehicles similar to golf carts and military vehicles. But this also includes non-mechanized vehicles such as bicycles and even skateboards."

Soldiers have to go through regular drivers training and must be qualified for whatever vehicle they are operating before attending the flight line driver course.

"Our driver training is mainly a risk management course," said Dover. "Army Regulation 95-20, Contractors Flight and Ground Operations, governs this course. We teach orientation of the airfield, landing and nonlanding zones, and proper use of call signs to communicate with airfield command."

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Cawrze, AH-64 Apache pilot, Company A, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th CAB, said the training is important for airfield operations efficiency.

"Knowing airport signage, movement and non-movement areas, and operating areas prevents runway incursions and ground accidents," said Cawrze. "The ability to maneuver around the airfield is very important to the maintainers because it allows them to do on-the-spot maintenance on aircraft if needed. It also allows air crews to get the equipment to the aircraft faster in case of emergencies."

• Date Taken: 07.02.2015
• Date Posted: 07.27.2015 15:43
• Story ID: 171238
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US