Tips to keep airfield members safe

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Montse Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  This year, airfield management is determined to lower this Air Force Global Strike Command base's violation numbers and ensure airfield members are safe, by providing Airmen with information that will help prevent any further intrusions.

In 2010, Whiteman had 10 Controlled Movement Area violations, or runway intrusions, which are a large amount compared to other stateside bases, according to Master Sgt. Joshua Martin, 509th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager.

The areas with the most violations are the CMA, which is on taxiway-C east and west, and the instrument landing system critical area located at the ends of the runway on the east side.

The violation that has occurred one too many times is entering the CMA without permission from the operations tower.

"The CMA on any airfield is a dangerous place for vehicles to operate," said Tech. Sgt. Traci Schroeder, 509th OSS deputy airfield manager. "Prior to entering the CMA, every driver is responsible for contacting the Whiteman tower for permission to proceed and must maintain radio contact with the tower while they are operating in the CMA."

Personnel caught entering the CMA without express permission from the tower will lose their airfield driving privileges for a minimum of 60 days and will have to perform their airfield training again.

The following are more tips for diving safely on the airfield:

· Always yield to aircraft, emergency vehicles and snow removal transportation.

· Obey speed limits. The taxiway speed limit is 25 mph and taxi lanes E&F (parallel to the docks) are 15 mph.

· Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

· Treat the stop bars as a stop sign, coming to a complete stop.

· Keep your airfield drivers license on your person, and ready at all times. (Random inspections occur nine times a day).

· Always be aware of aircraft on the runway.

"It's crucial for Airmen to follow these rules," said Sergeant Martin. "If rules are not followed, Airmen are putting themselves and others at risk. Million dollar assets could be lost in an accident, or worse, a life."