LGW Emergency Vehicles

[St John Guy]

Hi All,

Can anyone tell me why is it that some of the police cars and ambulances, (especially the ambulance jeep) at Gatwick use the taxi ways instead of the roads. Are they allowed to do this?

Who has right of way? The emergency vehicle or the airplanes?

Why is it that some ambulances seem to drive around on their own and other always have a police car or van with them?

Thanks.

Jerry.

[PPRuNeUser0171]

Can anyone tell me why is it that some of the police cars and ambulances, (especially the ambulance jeep) at Gatwick use the taxi ways instead of the roads. Are they allowed to do this?

Yes, But they have to have a special driving licence before being able to do this.

Who has right of way? The emergency vehicle or the airplanes?

Always the airplanes, It's not easy to stop a 747 just because an ambulance needs to get past and the power of engines even at low settings is incredible (as demostrated elsewhere in this forumn I think).

--
Gary Williams

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Rest assured they are authorised and they do know what they are doing. If they need to go near or cross a runway they will communicate by radio with ATC.

[Spitoon]

The ones with an escort will be driven by people who do not have an airside driving permit.

[Muppit]

The safest place on an airfield is the taxiway system....those airside roads are down right deadly!!

AFS, SOLO (Ambulance service) and Police are all allowed to free-range and will always give way to a/c. (When ATC see the vehicles with the 'blues' they tend to try and assist)

It's a system that works well; just watch out for those 'lost' policemen at night when they 'drift' onto the runway!

:p

[pilotwolf]

In support of the above...

I can only speak 100% for the ambulance service but think the others are pretty much the same...

Solo, (the Toyota 4x4) and sometimes dependent on the crew an ambulance can 'free range' ie use the the taxiways as well as the airside roads. There is a limited number of ambulance staff with airside driving permits, about 14 currently of which 9 can free range. If a non airside driver/crew are manning the ambulance then it must be escorted hence the police or sometimes an airfield ops vehicle.

Initially we are trained by the police for 'Roads Only' and then progress to Free Range after some airside experience and further training then a oral/pratical knowledge exam from Airfield Ops.

As I say I think the police and fire operate the same system as they do our initial and refresher training.

And yes all aircraft have the right of way! After all you can't trust these pilot types, (not that there are many helio pilots at LGW these days!)

And thanks Muppit - we appreciate your asistance. But wont comment on your last paragraph in case I fail my recertification!!!

:rolleyes:

[St John Guy]

Hi All.

Thanks for your answers. I am very jealous of them would give anything to be able to drive around the airplanes like that.

Jerry.