Follow me: Transient alert team helps aircraft in transit

Published June 8, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis Air Force Base, known as the Gateway to the Pacific, prominently supports the Air Force mission with rapid global mobility and contingency response for crisis situations around the world.

Travis also plays a role in many national and international missions from a variety of organizations, militaries and programs.

Most often recognized as the Follow Me truck drivers on the flight line, the transient alert team partners with Travis maintainers to recover, service, defuel, refuel, inspect and launch every one of the aircraft that aren't Travis-based.

"We are here to handle any aircraft or helicopter on a transit mission through Travis," said Jonathan Thorpe, Triad project manager.

Given the day, the TA team could be working with a C-130 Hercules from the Australian air force that made a stop for mechanical reasons or providing presidential support aircraft with refueling and ground support on its way to another destination.

"We provide direct support to a variety of missions," Thorpe said. "These include NASA, Aero Medical Evacuation, the Department of Justice-(Conair), presidential support, many foreign national aircraft as well as many others."

Even with such a large inventory, this team of prior military members is expected to be knowledgeable of all these aircraft and what it takes to service them.

"While the military is more specialized, we are qualified to service anything that flies," Thorpe said. "It's rare to come across an aircraft that we are unfamiliar with."

Although the training system differs from the Airmen in the maintenance squadrons, the same guidelines and regulations must be followed on all aircraft by the TA team.

"We use the same tech data that the Airmen in the maintenance squadron use," Thorpe said. "Even though we're contractors, we are expected to perform at the military standard."

There are situations when the team runs across rare aircraft that doesn't have tech data. In those situations, general safety rules are applied as well as the knowledge and experience of the transient alert team, Thorpe said.

The follow me vehicles are utilized as a safety precaution during situations when aircraft are taxiing, landing and taking off in inclement weather, and the pilot may not have a clear view of the path they need to follow.

A daily shift consists of three to four transient alert workers out on the flight line in the "follow me" trucks, ensuring that take-off and recovery operations are running smoothly.

"Sometimes, there are a multitude of aircraft that are scheduled to take off and land at the same time," Thorpe said. "With a three to four person team, that can get hectic. The key to getting aircraft recovered and off the ground is priority, a sense of urgency and especially communication."

The TA team, air traffic control tower and the pilot of the aircraft maintain a flow of communication from recovery to take off to ensure an environment of safety for the personnel and assets on the flight line.

"Travis transient alert constantly receive praises from flight crews from all over the world on our dedication, professionalism and sense of purpose," Thorpe said. "We're good at what we do. We get those airplanes off the ground."