Many of us will be familiar with the routine of driving to the airport and parking up, full of anticipation for the journey ahead. However, what about the cars that work on the apron of the airport itself? Known as ‘follow me’ vehicles, these automobiles can help make an airport’s ground operations safer and more convenient.
What do follow me cars do?
The marshaling of taxiing aircraft plays a key role in an airport’s safe and efficient ground operations. When parking at gates, marshalers often guide aircraft in using hand gestures made clearer through the use of illuminated sticks. However, airports can also use another visual aid to guide aircraft from place to place.
This additional visual aid comes in the form of a so-called ‘follow me’ car. Airports provide these special vehicles as something for aircraft to follow on their journeys across the facility. According to Skybrary, this can be done for the purposes of both safety and convenience. It is worth noting that not all aircraft receive such assistance, as for this to be the case at large and busy airports would require an enormous fleet of such vehicles.
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Interestingly, moving forward, we may find that these vehicles are increasingly powered by electricity. This would represent a small but useful part of the puzzle in terms of making commercial aviation a more sustainable industry. Indeed, India is encouraging all of its airports to deploy electric ground vehicles in an attempt to become carbon neutral.
How do they differ from regular vehicles?
Several technological features set ‘follow me’ cars apart from their typical road-going counterparts. German automotive manufacturer Daimler works closely with Intax to convert around 5,000 vehicles every year for such purposes. The company states that:
“The vehicles used as the basis for follow-me vehicles include the Mercedes-Benz Citan panel van, Mixto, or crew bus. The follow-me fixture on the roof is available as a fixed installation or in a magnetic version, with operation by switches or a control panel. Numerous additional mechanical or electronic features are also available.”
In addition to their role as a visual guide for taxiing aircraft, these vehicles can also serve a logistical purpose. Indeed, they often serve as the quickest means of getting equipment from one part of the airport to another. Daimler adds that:
“The application of adhesive foil coverings is to individual customer request. The same applies to the installation of shelving or stowage facilities for signalling equipment and airport-specific electronics.”
Not a place for normal cars
Commercial aviation is a highly safety-driven industry. As with all aspects of this line of work, the use of ‘follow me’ cars takes place amid various parameters and regulations that minimize operational danger to all passengers and employees. As such, an airport’s apron is certainly not somewhere that any car off the street can drive on.
Photo: Getty Images
However, in November 2020, Van Nuys Airport in California experienced an unusual runway incursion from a dark-grey sedan. This road car was being pursued by police when it penetrated the airport’s perimeter fence and sped across its runways and taxiways. This dangerous situation forced the airport to suspend operations for around an hour.
Thankfully, the driver of the car was stopped and arrested with no injuries to anyone involved. The same could be said for a similar incident in Thailand in January 2021. In this instance, the individual whose car was on the runway claimed to have taken a wrong turn. It was reported that the driver might have been under the influence of illegal drugs at the time.
Have you ever seen a ‘follow me’ car at an airport? Perhaps you work in aircraft marshaling, and have even driven one? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
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