Airfield Driving Experience
Thread Starter
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Old Sarum ish
Airfield Driving Experience
'm applying for a job ... a job I really REALLY want. I have all of the experience they deem 'essential', except for "Vehicle driving e.g. patrol vehicles, tractors & other plant".
Can anyone help me with this? Give me some experience of tractor driving, or take me round some airfields, seeing what is involved in patrol?
Please please please???
Thank you.
Can anyone help me with this? Give me some experience of tractor driving, or take me round some airfields, seeing what is involved in patrol?
Please please please???
Thank you.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
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From: Earth
Would love to help but I think you might find "my equipment a bit too large"!!
It's all 180hp stuff and most airfields use small amenity type machinery that is totally different.
Your best bet might be an agricultural college for a couple of hours. Speak to the machinery lecturer bloke and explain your predicament. The college I went to would certainly help out but they are a long way away for you.
If you get really stuck I'm sure between stik and myself we can find some willing young farmer for you. (so to speak)
It's all 180hp stuff and most airfields use small amenity type machinery that is totally different.
Your best bet might be an agricultural college for a couple of hours. Speak to the machinery lecturer bloke and explain your predicament. The college I went to would certainly help out but they are a long way away for you.
If you get really stuck I'm sure between stik and myself we can find some willing young farmer for you. (so to speak)
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 274
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From: Location, Location
Or wing-it (excuse the pun)...
You drive a car, right? Tractor's the same thing, but slower. I doubt they're going to ask you to make a JCB dance, or to stack bricks with a long-reach crane! I'm a total idiot and I've not found a piece of machinery that I couldn't get to grips with after 30 seconds of instruction yet...
I'm sure there is machinery that takes lots of skill and learning to operate, but that prob won't be on the list.
Sometimes "essential" can still be wishlist, in reality, as well.
Hersh
You drive a car, right? Tractor's the same thing, but slower. I doubt they're going to ask you to make a JCB dance, or to stack bricks with a long-reach crane! I'm a total idiot and I've not found a piece of machinery that I couldn't get to grips with after 30 seconds of instruction yet...
I'm sure there is machinery that takes lots of skill and learning to operate, but that prob won't be on the list.
Sometimes "essential" can still be wishlist, in reality, as well.
Hersh
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 568
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From: Swindon, Wilts,UK
By experience do they mean an operators license? If you're employed to drive Fork Trucks, nowadays you have to have been on a HSE approved course and have a certificate to prove it.
Cranes and excavators etc you'll probably need a ticket for insurance purposes.
Plant operators license
Cranes and excavators etc you'll probably need a ticket for insurance purposes.
Plant operators license
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,729
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From: 75N 16E
Havan't got a Nissan Patrol, but have a Mitsubishi Pajero which is fun to drive around fields in mud. Got a bit scared when the AI (inclinometer) reached 30 degrees though on a particularly steep bit of ground
Would love to help out, but am off for my "High altitude endoresment" and "Half pipe" ratings in the Alps this afternoon.
Ah, have just noticed that you said "airfields" and not "fields"...oh well
but have a Mitsubishi Pajero which is fun to drive around fields in mud. Got a bit scared when the AI (inclinometer) reached 30 degrees though on a particularly steep bit of ground Would love to help out, but am off for my "High altitude endoresment" and "Half pipe" ratings in the Alps this afternoon.
Ah, have just noticed that you said "airfields" and not "fields"...oh well
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,681
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From: Just South of the last ice sheet
AB what are you actually patrolling? If it's an airfield I would imagine that it's just the ability to drive slowly in low gear around the perimeter with the occasional dash to catch offending pilots who aren't wearing their hi-viz vests 
As Hersham Boy said, driving a tractor is no different from driving a car except slower. Be prepared for one with a hand throttle, clutch on the right pedal and brakes on the left pedal though. Once you get over the unfamiliar controls it's a doddle as everything happens relatively slowly.
Edited cos I'd got my pedals the wrong way around......
As Hersham Boy said, driving a tractor is no different from driving a car except slower. Be prepared for one with a hand throttle, clutch on the right pedal and brakes on the left pedal though. Once you get over the unfamiliar controls it's a doddle as everything happens relatively slowly.
Edited cos I'd got my pedals the wrong way around......
Thread Starter
High Flying Bird
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Old Sarum ish
No, it's not another April fool. One successful attempt was enough.
The job is as an operations officer at North Weald (if anyone is involved in this, do drop me a line & let me know what your favourite bribe is). They have a tick list of 'essentials' for experience; one of which is drivin' trac'ors. Of coursel, I've never driven one. But, IF I get as far as interview, I'd like to be able to have some more cards up my sleeve. I'd rather be able to say 'yes, I can and have driven trac'ors' than 'no, but I'm sure I could'.
The job is as an operations officer at North Weald (if anyone is involved in this, do drop me a line & let me know what your favourite bribe is). They have a tick list of 'essentials' for experience; one of which is drivin' trac'ors. Of coursel, I've never driven one. But, IF I get as far as interview, I'd like to be able to have some more cards up my sleeve. I'd rather be able to say 'yes, I can and have driven trac'ors' than 'no, but I'm sure I could'.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 199
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From: back at the grind stone
We'll we've got some small tractors. but so old and knackered it would scare some people off.
For the other agri aviators out there list
Ford 3600 (1978)
DB 820 (1974)
F35 (1976)
Fordson Dexta (1958 ?)
Ferrari ! Articulated vinyard tractor (1979)
Univeral 850 (1972) owned from new (will need a new clutch soon, any help locating a source ???)
All with pto drive and standard 3 point hitch (We keep a 6ft offset topper (Twose) on the Universal, rusted in place by now) and have a 8ft Bee which we use on the big Ford (58 hp, wow).
But you may find that some people use a gang mower to trim the strip and a frail topper for the really rough stuff.
Have I confused you enough yet ??
For the other agri aviators out there list
Ford 3600 (1978)
DB 820 (1974)
F35 (1976)
Fordson Dexta (1958 ?)
Ferrari ! Articulated vinyard tractor (1979)
Univeral 850 (1972) owned from new (will need a new clutch soon, any help locating a source ???)
All with pto drive and standard 3 point hitch (We keep a 6ft offset topper (Twose) on the Universal, rusted in place by now) and have a 8ft Bee which we use on the big Ford (58 hp, wow).
But you may find that some people use a gang mower to trim the strip and a frail topper for the really rough stuff.
Have I confused you enough yet ??
Guest
Posts: n/a
Is that the same North Weald the Govt wants to obliterate under a massive housing scheme?
Airfield Ops covers amultitude of sins. I suspect the new boy (girl) gets to cut the grass!
If it were me I'd phone them up and ask if they could list out the equipment so you can check them against your skill sets.
Patrol could be Bird Control, Perimeter Security, Airside Safety (ensuring everyone looks suitably Canary Yellow) Follow me services for lost taxy-ers. FOD suppression and fetching the ATCO's their butties at lunch time
Just a guess!
Sir George Cayley
Airfield Ops covers amultitude of sins. I suspect the new boy (girl) gets to cut the grass!
If it were me I'd phone them up and ask if they could list out the equipment so you can check them against your skill sets.
Patrol could be Bird Control, Perimeter Security, Airside Safety (ensuring everyone looks suitably Canary Yellow) Follow me services for lost taxy-ers. FOD suppression and fetching the ATCO's their butties at lunch time
Just a guess!
Sir George Cayley
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 263
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From: Texas, USA
I drove a Kubota tractor with a mowing attachment to do the mowing at my local gider field. Easy peasy. No worries aerbabe. Maybe you should go ask a local farmer or something.
Just a couple of extra levers to control the power take off and high-low range like a landrover.
In fact we used to stick some of the guys wives on it as they quite enjoyed the vibrations or something ...
Just a couple of extra levers to control the power take off and high-low range like a landrover.
In fact we used to stick some of the guys wives on it as they quite enjoyed the vibrations or something ...
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
Likes: 686
From: Twickenham, home of rugby
I've driven tractors on various gliding sites to haul gliders around and to pull out launch cables. As others have said, there are a few different things - hand throttle and hi/lo ratio - that actually make it easier to drive than a car.
It's strangely relaxing, too, as everything seems to be in slow motion.
It really is not difficult, and to prove it some women can do it too!
(I'll get me hat and coat)
SD
It's strangely relaxing, too, as everything seems to be in slow motion.
It really is not difficult, and to prove it some women can do it too!
(I'll get me hat and coat)
SD
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 2
From: UK
As others have said, go gliding!! I used to do lots of tractor driving in my gliding days, and those, to, had no rollover protection (and it was a hill site, so by no means all flat). They are very simple machines - like a heavy, slow car to drive, but with a hand operated throttle.
I've also had a go with a bulldozer. Driving the beast was easy (hand-operated steering clutch levers for the steering, with differential foot brakes to lock the tracks), but my attempts to level a piece of ground left me with deep respect for anyone who can do it. As the 'dozer tilts on the rough ground, the blade digs in and tends to bury itself ever deeper, or rises and dumps a mound of earth for the 'dozer to pivot over. The secret is accurate and anticipatory tiny adjustments to blade height - and there's a lag between oprating the lever and the blade moving.
Makes aeros look simple :lol:
SSD
I've also had a go with a bulldozer. Driving the beast was easy (hand-operated steering clutch levers for the steering, with differential foot brakes to lock the tracks), but my attempts to level a piece of ground left me with deep respect for anyone who can do it. As the 'dozer tilts on the rough ground, the blade digs in and tends to bury itself ever deeper, or rises and dumps a mound of earth for the 'dozer to pivot over. The secret is accurate and anticipatory tiny adjustments to blade height - and there's a lag between oprating the lever and the blade moving.
Makes aeros look simple :lol:
SSD
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Reading
You could always do what our professional bretheren do and simulate!!
Simply drive your car to the bypass of your choice. Drive on it at no more than 25 mph using only gears 1 & 2 (maybe 3 at the most)
Anyone got any suggestions for emergencies
(seriously - good luck with getting the job)....
Simply drive your car to the bypass of your choice. Drive on it at no more than 25 mph using only gears 1 & 2 (maybe 3 at the most)
Anyone got any suggestions for emergencies
(seriously - good luck with getting the job)....
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Aerbabe,
If really desperate, lie! Tell them you've done it, and if you get the job, just make sure that you have done it before you start. That gives you a bit more time.
Good luck. Sounds right up your street.
If really desperate, lie! Tell them you've done it, and if you get the job, just make sure that you have done it before you start. That gives you a bit more time.
Good luck. Sounds right up your street.
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
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From: London, UK
At North Weald they have a wonderful 1940s fuel bowser, to go with the not so wonderful 1940s rock buns in the canteen, but I think that only John the Fuel gets to drive the bowser. Crash gearbox, worse brakes than a Cub, a fine machine. Last I heard, North Weald had earned a reprieve for another year or so. I hope so, as it is a splendid and atmospheric place, home to many interesting aircraft. Aerbabe, if they offer to pay part of your wages in rockbuns, walk away.
Last edited by FNG; 3rd April 2004 at 16:13.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Norfolk
1811 acres
Aerbabe...
I have some cutting and rolling needed ASAP - Davie Broon, 55hp
I'll provide lunch and diesel and if you knock out a nice certificate proclaiming tractor competency on your PC, I'll sign it.
spoke to bruv-in-law at dinner yeterday and he's only got 9 tractors but will let you drive the 35hp one to spread muck
STANDBY... STANDBY...
Stik
I have some cutting and rolling needed ASAP - Davie Broon, 55hp
I'll provide lunch and diesel and if you knock out a nice certificate proclaiming tractor competency on your PC, I'll sign it.
spoke to bruv-in-law at dinner yeterday and he's only got 9 tractors but will let you drive the 35hp one to spread muck
STANDBY... STANDBY...
Stik