Flight Line Transportation and Concerns
As a separate but related issue, you need to carefully organize the flight line arrival/departure of a DV. It is important that the movement of all vehicles and visitors be smooth and efficient. This is not a social event by definition, and visitors should be moved quickly and safety to their first engagement. When proper greeting/farewelling of DVs is required, persons of equal or higher rank should greet/farewell whenever possible. Additionally, if an honor guard or cordon is required (see Greet and Farewell section in this chapter for details), then you need to make sure you know how to set one up. If local movement of the DV requires airlift (helicopter), back up ground transportation should always be standing by until the aircraft is airborne with operations normal. This is also the case with DV departures by air. As a conscientious and successful protocol officer, you never release your ground transportation until the departing DV's aircraft is wheels up and operations on the aircraft are normal.
Airlift, as an alternative to local ground transportation, may be requested or even required for certain DV visits. In these instances, you need to know to arrange such transportation and should understand where local airlift transportation resources are located and how to scheduled them.
You may have several other concerns regarding flight line transportation. The weather can be a big factor and you need to pay close attention to forecasts surrounding scheduled DV arrival/departure times. Fog, ice, and snow are just some of the weather conditions which could delay or even cancel departures or cause arrivals to be diverted. In some instances, you will have to arrange backup lodging, meals and transportation as well as be prepared to expand the itinerary. Additionally, personnel must be notified of changes at follow on installations (if the DV is on a nationwide visit, for example). You must also notify local commanders of the changes, especially if these commanders are hosting the DV's visit.
Other concerns include the spotting of the aircraft upon arrival or departure so that the individual(s) greeting or farewelling knows where to position him or herself and where entrance to and egress from the aircraft will take place. Also, the movement of luggage including where and by what means it will be removed from or placed on the aircraft is of utmost importance, especially if the luggage will depart the flight line with the DV or arrive for departure with the DV. Baggage details for large visits are a good idea and must be included in your planning process for transportation.
Most installations have a DV lounge associated with the flight line operations, where the DV can relax, read the newspaper, watch the television, or do whatever. These lounges can be a great source of comfort for you as well as the DV when unexpected delays do occur. But the lounge is not a set of quarters or a suite, and you must deal with delays in excess of a few hours appropriately.