Driver Training is an essential part of the safety on the airport grounds. There are mandatory initial and recurrent driver training programs at some airports. If you drive on the ramps/aprons, from terminal to terminal, or if you drive on the taxiways and runways (movement area) the training you have is very important on a day-to-day basis. What if you are part of the ARFF Department, do you still need driver training? Absolutely! Anyone driving on the AOA should have driver training regardless of their duties।
I'd like to share a story with you.
It's about 5pm, all the administration and maintenance personnel have gone home for the day. There are two ARFF responders on shift. They receive a call from the air traffic control tower (ATCT) to notify them that there is a aircraft inbound with an possible gear problem. Off they go to save the day, well maybe not but they are going to assist in the best possible way. The aircraft lands with no incident, but the pilot makes the decision that he can't taxi the aircraft to the gate and shuts it down on the taxiway. The ARFF vehicle positions on the nose as the aircraft is evacuated. They know have nine souls wondering about the aircraft on the taxiway. At this time there is no one manning the operations office, no one to drive a vehicle to the scene to assist these people that where on the plane. Just then they look up and here comes the FBO passenger bus pulling up to the aircraft. The bus is being driven by a FBO customer service employee that has not had driver training for five years.
The passengers were transported to the terminal with no problem, the aircraft towed to the gate also with no problem. So whats the point you ask? The point is the driver of the bus with expired driver training has entered the movement area. This employee had good intentions of helping the situation but consequently could have hindered it by causing a surface deviation, runway incursion or worse. What if it was another employee working in the FBO and not the one that has prior driving experience? Should the FBO personnel be given driver training? The point is this could have caused more problems then we already had. You have a skeletal ARFF crew trying to get the people to the terminal, tow the aircraft off the taxiway and get the airport up and running. The IC is hard-pressed to effectively, yet efficiently, complete the task at hand. Above all, the FAA, the state and the airport regulations regarding public protection and driver training must take precedence.
This is a very serious issue. An issue that could not be overlooked, and it wasn't. There was no discipline given over the action taken to the situation. It was determined that there would be no further driver training given to the FBO personnel। Sometimes we need to slowdown and think things through. An understanding to the limitations, not only of yourself but the people around you.
Regardless of your driving duties on the airport, safety for you and your co-workers has to be first. Your driver training program should be reviewed and updated annually. Do not compromise safety for efficiency.
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