MCAS CHERRY POINT

Basic Airfield Vehicle Operator Course (AVOC)

REFERENCES

1) FAA Handbook 7110.65

2) NAVAIR 00-80T-114

3) MCO 1500.19

4) AirStaO P 3710.5

5) ATCFacO P3722.1

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Basic Airfield Vehicle Operator Course (AVOC) is to ensure all individuals who operate vehicles and support equipment are properly trained so they can safely communicate and operate on MCAS Cherry Point’s Airfield.

Course Overview

Classroom

Written Exam (80% or better)

Airfield Tour

Facility that uses air/ground communications, visual signals and other devices to provide ATC services to aircraft and vehicles operating on or in the vicinity of the airfield

Control Tower

Non-Movement Area- Areas on an airfield not under the control of ATC. (aircraft parking ramps)

Vigilance is required as to not run into parked aircraft, aircraft engine starts, etc.

Non-movement

Runways, taxiways and other areas of an airport which are utilized for aircraft operations.

Approval for entry onto the movement area must be obtained from the control tower.

Airfield vehicle operators license required.

Movement Area

Operating on movement areas Never operate any vehicle on the airfield

movement areas without establishing two way communications with the control tower.

Only operate in areas authorized by the Control Tower.

Anytime you become disoriented, hold your position and ask for guidance from the Tower.

Give way to all emergency vehicles responding to an emergency.

Maintain radio discipline at all times. After receiving authorization, look both ways

before crossing a runway.  Airport speed limit is 20 MPH. 5 MPH when

towing an aircraft or within parking ramps/fuel pits  EXPEDITE movement on runway areas.  While operating on the airfield, operate hazards

and flashing lights.  During the hours of darkness, be careful to operate

headlights so not to blind pilots. 

Runway- A defined rectangular area where aircraft operations are conducted (takeoffs and landings).

Duty Runway- The runway in use by ATC. Runway markings are WHITE. Runway lights are WHITE.

Runways

Runway

AV- 8 VSTOL Pads

Concrete Pad used for AV-8 vertical takeoffs and landings.

CALA

DD

FF

BB

AA

FUEL PITS

HEAVY FUEL PITS

ARM/DEARM

4

3

2

1

HELOVIP2

TACAN ASR-8

RECOVERY

VIP1

E-28E-28

E-28

E-28FRESNEL

E-5

E-5

FRESNEL

E-5

FRESNEL

E-5

FRESNEL

PAPI

PAPI

FUEL PITS

OUTBOUND

JJ

HHII

GG

EE

FPN-63

5R32L

23R14L

8080

X196 7607X200

7600

X200

8968X200

PAPI

PAPI

7100 X 200

4800 X 200

6100 X 2006

78

9

1

2

3

4

5

1011

1213

1415

TAXIWAYSTHRU

WARM-UP AREASTHRU

A L

1 4

FUEL PITS

T-LINE

A

B

C

D

E

E

F

G

H

I

KK

TAXIWAYSA & KUNLIT

CC

WASHRACK

SOUTHPAD

1500F

T

NADEPPAD

ILSCRITICAL

AREA

CONTROLTOWER

INBOUND

1500FT

CRASHCREW

HIGHPOWERRUN-UP

ILSCRITICAL

AREA

1500FT

CARRIERDECK

1500FT

SOUTHEASTPAD

COMPASS ROSE

NORTHEASTPAD

LL

Taxiway- Paved area for aircraft movement between the runway and parking area.

Taxiway markings are YELLOW.

Taxiway lights are BLUE.

Taxiways

Taxiway

CALA

D

F

B

A

ORDNANCESAFETY AREA

4

E-28E-28

E-28

E-28

PAPI

PAPI

J

I

G

E

PAPI

PAPI

A

B

C

D

E

E

F

G

H

I

K

C

VTL4(SOUTH)NADEP

PAD

BASE OPS /PASSENGERTERMINAL /

TOWER

VTL3(SOUTHEAST)

COMPASSROSE

VTL2(NORTHEAST)

L

VTL1(NORTH)H M N

AERIALPORT OFEMBARK-

ATIONLARGE

AIRCRAFTREFUELING

AREA

HANGARS

ELEV23

ELEV28

HIGH POWER

RADAR REFLECTORSON ALL RWYS

ELEV17

ELEV19

ELEV19

ELEV29

ELEV29

FIELDELEV

29

Displaced Thresholds for landing only:Departing Rwy 14R distance 8398’Departing Rwy 5L distance 8491’

RADAR REFLECTORSON ALL RUNWAYS

RECOVERY

CFRP

VMU-2

CFR RAMPK

3

2

1

Signs and Markings

Distance remaining board

Runway and Taxiway sign

Taxiway signs

Hold short line

Windsock

ILS Critical Area

Radios can be checked out for a 10 hour period from Airfield Base Operations.  

The ATC Ground Controller is responsible for all movement of vehicles on the airfield movement areas.

Make requests as simple and direct as possible. The number of vehicles simultaneously operating

on the airfield can cause the FM frequency to be congested. In addition, the controllers are not just talking to vehicles, they are responsible for the entire ground movement. If the tower doesn’t answer you immediately, they may be talking to aircraft or issuing clearances on a different frequency.

Communications

Acknowledge – Let me know you have received and understand this message.

Advise intentions – Tell me what you plan to do. Affirmative – Yes. Confirm – My version is…is that correct? Correction – An error has been made in the

transmission and the correct version follows. Go ahead – State your request (never means

“proceed”).Hold – Stop where you are.

Operating terms

Hold short of … - Proceed to, but hold short of a specific point.

Negative – No, or permission not granted, or that is not correct

Proceed – You are authorized to begin or continue moving.

Read back – Repeat my message back to me. Roger – I have received all of your last

transmission. Say again – Repeat what you just said. Standby – Wait…I will get back to you. The caller

should reestablish contact if the delay is lengthy.

Unable – I can’t do it. Verify – Request confirmation of information. Wilco – I have received your message, understand

it, and will comply. Without Delay - Instruction from ATC to expedite

the movement of an aircraft or vehicle. Expedite - Term used by ATC when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of an imminent situation.

Phraseology When operating on the airfield, use clear, concise

and correct phraseology. Know your vehicle call sign and speak clearly,

distinctly and know exactly what you want to say. Be absolutely sure you understand what the Control

Tower has said. If you are unsure of any part, hold your position and request the tower to repeat their instructions.

There are four basic steps: 1) identify who your calling and who you are, 2) wait for the tower to respond, 3) State your request and your position, and 4) read back exactly what the tower authorized you to do.

Driver - “Ground, Cherry Alpha”.

**Wait for a response**

Tower - “Cherry Alpha, Cherry Point Ground”

Driver - “Ground, Cherry Alpha is at the base of the tower, requesting permission to proceed across Runway 5 to Charlie Taxiway”.

Tower - “Cherry Alpha, Ground, proceed up to and hold short of Runway 5 abeam Charlie Taxiway”.

Driver - “Ground, Cherry Alpha is proceeding up to and will hold short of Runway 5 abeam Charlie Taxiway”.

**PROCEED**

Driver - “ Cherry Point Ground, Cherry Alpha is holding short of Runway 5”.

Phraseology Example

Tower - “Cherry Alpha proceed across Runway 5 to Charlie Taxiway”.

Driver - “Ground, Cherry Alpha is proceeding across Runway 5 to Charlie Taxiway”.

**PROCEED**

Driver - “Ground, Cherry Alpha is clear of Runway 5 on Charlie Taxiway”.

Tower – “Cherry Alpha Roger”.

* Runway incursions are the number one airfield hazard to pilots and air traffic controllers. FAA standards direct that all ATC hold short instructions SHALL be read back verbatim.

A Alpha J Juliet S SierraB Bravo K Kilo T TangoC Charlie L Lima U UniformD Delta M Mike V VictorE Echo N November W WhiskeyF Foxtrot O Oscar X X-rayG Golf P Papa Y YankeeH Hotel Q Quebec Z ZuluI India R Romeo

Phonetic Alphabet

 Prior to entering the movement area:• Check your radio, re-attempt.• Get another radio.

*** Vehicles shall not enter a movement area without two way communication with the tower.

While on the movement area:• Check your radio.• Point vehicle at the tower and flash head lights.• Hold your position, tower will send out an assistance vehicle.

Lost Communications

Cross perpendicular to the runway.

Do not cut across the center mat.

Look both ways for any landing or departing aircraft.

Broadcast your intentions on Ground Control frequency in the blind. Example: “(call sign) broadcasting in the blind, crossing runway five right from the base of the tower to the PAR site.”

Cross the runway.  After crossing the runway, broadcast on frequency 140.1 that you are

clear of the runway.

Closed Field Procedures

 Steady Green Cleared to cross; proceed; go Steady Red Stop Flashing Red Clear/exit the runway/taxiway immediately Flashing white Return to starting point Alternating Red/Green Exercise extreme caution

Light Gun Signals

Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH)- Incidents involving collision between any of nature’s creatures and an aircraft.

BASH

Jet Blast Clip

Jet Blast- Jet engine exhaust.

Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

Foreign Object Damage (FOD) is damage to aeronautical equipment caused by an object external to that equipment.

FOD to aircraft, engines, support equipment, and other aeronautical equipment is a costly problem which cannot be overstated.

Ingestion of foreign objects by gas turbine engines accounts for the largest percentage of premature engine removals from naval aircraft. FOD presents personnel and material hazards, consumes valuable maintenance man-hours, imposes additional unscheduled workloads on both using and supporting activities, creates shortages, wastes dollars, and reduces operational readiness.

Most FOD can be attributed to poor housekeeping, facility

deterioration, improper maintenance practices or carelessness.

FOD

Vehicles transiting the aircraft operating surfaces carry the ingredients for FOD.

Tires pick up rocks and deposit them on the runways.

Mud caked on the vehicle can fall off and create a hazard.

Bolts, fasteners and other hardware are often found to be culprits in a FOD investigation.

Material carried in the back of pickup trucks or on the back of stake beds can find its way to the runway surface.

Vehicles and FOD

Stop and check your vehicle before you enter an active aircraft operating area such as a taxiway or runway.

Examine the vehicle for anything that may fall off such as caked on mud or other debris. This includes the bed.

Check your tires for material caught in the tread. Any debris found must be removed, collected and properly disposed of.

Inspect the vehicle each time you enter an active area from an inactive area.

FOD Prevention

When on the movement area, report any observed FOD to the Tower.

Routinely watch for FOD on parking ramps, turn up areas, work spaces, taxiways, test cell areas, and runways. Pick up the material and dispose of it properly.

Clean up your work area. Account for each tool, each item of support equipment, and consumable used in the repair of items on the airfield.

A washer left on a runway can easily do 1.5 million dollars in damage.

MCO 1500.19 – Currently mandates 8 consecutive hours of rest in any given 24-hour period. Limits total driving time to 10 hours on any given shift.

CREW REST

QUESTIONS?