Ever wondered about those special cars zipping around at airports? They’re called ‘follow me’ cars, and they’re pretty cool! These nifty vehicles help guide planes on the ground, making sure everything runs smoothly and safely. As airports try to be more eco-friendly, we might start seeing electric ‘follow me’ cars soon. Plus, these versatile vehicles can even help airport staff move stuff around!
We all know the drill: drive to the airport, park (and pay those hefty fees!), and head off on our journey. But have you ever noticed the cars buzzing around on the tarmac? These ‘follow me’ cars play a big part in keeping things safe and organized on the ground.
So, what do these cars actually do?
Whether you’re at a tiny local airport or a massive international one, getting planes from A to B on the ground is super important. While there are people with light-up sticks to help park planes at gates, ‘follow me’ cars offer an extra helping hand. They lead planes around the airport, kind of like a friendly guide.
This extra help is crucial for keeping planes safe. According to Skybrary, ‘follow me’ cars make ground movements both safer and more convenient. But don’t expect to see them with every single plane – big airports would need a ton of these cars to help everyone!
Looking ahead, we might see a switch from regular gas-powered ‘follow me’ cars to electric ones. It’s all part of making flying more environmentally friendly. In fact, India’s pushing for all their airports to use electric ground vehicles to help fight climate change.
How are they different from regular cars?
‘Follow me’ cars aren’t your average vehicles – they’re pretty high-tech! Daimler (you know, the car company) teams up with a company called Intax to turn thousands of regular cars into these special airport helpers each year. They usually start with Mercedes-Benz cars and add cool gadgets on the roof, plus some fancy mechanical and electronic bits.
The cars that get this makeover are usually Mercedes-Benz Citan vans or buses. That cool roof fixture? It can be stuck on permanently or attached with magnets, and it’s controlled by switches or a special panel. There are lots of other gadgets they can add too.
But these cars don’t just help planes – they’re super useful for airport staff too! They’re often the quickest way to move equipment around the airport. Daimler can customize these cars however the airport wants, adding things like special stickers or shelves to hold important airport gear.
Now, you might think these cars need to be super fast, but they don’t! Planes move pretty slowly on the ground. That said, some airports like to show off a bit – like Bologna Airport in Italy, which uses a fancy Lamborghini as a ‘follow me’ car!
Why can’t regular cars go there?
Safety is the name of the game in flying, so ‘follow me’ cars have to follow strict rules. That’s why you won’t see regular cars cruising around where planes are.
But sometimes, crazy things happen. In November 2020, someone actually drove their regular car onto the runways at Van Nuys Airport in California! The police were chasing them, and they crashed through the airport fence. Everything had to stop for about an hour.
Luckily, they caught the driver and nobody got hurt. Something similar happened in Thailand in January 2021 – that driver said they took a wrong turn (and might have been on drugs). These incidents show why it’s so important to keep regular cars out of airport areas!
