Follow Me Cars?

[FlyMD-12]

Hi,


Why some Airports use Follow me cars and some don't use it?

In Rome after our plane landed at 5.30A.M. I saw on the P-TV that we're following a yellow car with black lines with lights!

Thanks.

[Bumz_Rush]

actually so none of us get lost...or perhaps the airport has a lot of ground movement of cars, buses etc, or perhaps it is just so big, and new visitors dont get lost...It does, and can happen....trust me...Bumz

[oceancrosser]

Follow-me cars appear to be a way of life in many Southern European countries. Even at small simple airports. Appears to be some sort of way to increase employment in the aviation sector.

[TheOddOne]

We use 'follow me' or Leader vehicles to escort aircraft only when they demonstrate an inability to read the airport chart that they should have with them, or they cry 'help'.

If someone diverts in and has pressures such as an on-board emergency etc then it's perfectly acceptable to ask for assistance at a busy aerodrome. However, there have been instances in the past, with just a tiny minority of carriers, where their pilot training doen't appear to have included reading a Jeppesen or Aerad taxiway plate. Fotunately, these carriers aren't using Gatwick any more!

Another reason for using 'follow me' is when we want aircraft to operate outside the system on their documentation, such as when we have a disabled aircraft or Work in Progress that we need to escort them around.

Perhaps this latter was the case in Rome, or maybe their lighting on the airfield had failed.

Cheers,
The Odd One

[Dave Gittins]

It just seems to be way of life at some places.

I have flown a C172 at Tenerife South a few times and always have to wait for the follow me van to guide me back from the taxiway to my allocated parking - which is always in the same place and exactly where I set off from an hour earlier.

For some reason they are content to let me wander around and find the runway on my own on departure.

And to answer all the other questions, this is at high noon in perfect vis. in a Spanish registered, TFS based aeroplane with a Spanish instructor in the RHS as safety pilot and with no abnormal airport conditions.

They do exactly the same with everybody else - Follow me on arrival, find your own way out on departure.

Maybe it is to justify the landing fee ?? the take-off is free so the service is minimal.

It's just a southern European job creation scheme.

DGG

[Jordan D]

Does depend. Have flown into Prague in winter, and because certain taxiways were preferable (less icy), the airport asked that the capt follow him in. Or at least that's what the nice pilot said when I went upto the cockpit after reaching the stand.

Jordan

[Avman]

Some German airports, Dusseldorf for sure, operate Follow Me vehicles at all times for all arrivals.

[FlyMD-12]

We arrived at 5.30 A.M. and our plane was the only flight that time (I expected to see a lot of movement, a lot pf planes and passengers.... but nothing, just us;) )

It was still dark with light Fog (I think visibility was 3.5 k.m. don't remember, the pilot said that to us).

Plane was B777-200ER....

BTW, in my city Airport I didn't see a Follow Me car ever, %50 or even more of the daily flights are with B777 or B747, There are lights in the yellow line.

Thanks for all.

[WHBM]

St Petersburg, Russia always uses a Follow-Me vehicle at Pulkovo airport, which are clapped out old Ladas (the old 1960s Fiat 124 type) with a flashing yellow light plonked on top. They lead all non-resident aircraft between stand and runway. Always seems amusing to see them leading many hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of Airbus and Boeing slowly round the airport, using left and right indicators before a taxiway turn !

Was given to believe that whereas ATC can speak English, ground is in Russian. Of course most ground instructions are to vehicles, fuel trucks, etc who cannot speak English. So ground tells Lada 4 what they want in Russian, and the aircraft crew just follows them.

[Evening Star]

St Petersburg, Russia always uses a Follow-Me vehicle at Pulkovo airport, which are clapped out old Ladas (the old 1960s Fiat 124 type) with a flashing yellow light plonked on top. They lead all non-resident aircraft

Seems to be the same procedure for non-resident aircraft at all Russian airports. However, the Follow-Me cars at SVO are the mock 4WD Renault Scenic's. Am sure there is an improbable story as to how they ended up buying them.

[kotakota]

Follow Me ( Sigame etc...) are mainly a union thing/hangover from our socialist past ( and present ? ).
Many is the time that we have negotiated the highways and byeways of many fine 'dromes after landing , only to find the Follow Me waiting on the centreline to the stand which then drives all of 50 metres on to the stand , and sometimes ( if we are very lucky ) wave their bats until you stop . This often happens even if the guidance system is on !!
Very useful they are , hoping to get a job like that when my medical finally runs out.....................

[lexxity]

"Follow mes" are only really seen at MAN during heavy rain, that ramp becomes invisble when its bucketing down and when you add darkness into the equation it's damn near impossible to see more than a foot in front of your face.

[ukatco_535]

Follow mes" are only really seen at MAN during heavy rain

thats all the time then??!!

[amanoffewwords]

In Amsterdam they have a follow-us scheme operating:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=921939

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/confused0068.gif

[captain cumulonimbus]

Certain airlines (those registered with a 4X-,if that is discreet enough),usually get a follow me van at most european airports,such as ZRH.At other airports,like JNB,its called a "Sierra Papa" vehicle.(Sec. Patrol).They seem to be the only ones to get these constantly.Its a good idea as a security measure,but onewonders what use it is realistically?