Is Your Transportation “Fire and Forget?”

Ground transportation is often overlooked or seen as less than a priority when trips are being planned. However, smooth transitions are crucial components of seamless missions. Here are some tips to ensure your executives and crew are always on- if not ahead of – schedule.

Transportation is seldom at the forefront of an operator’s mind when working with an ITP. The need for transportation is usually overshadowed by the aviation-centric aspects of a trip. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, it is a small and obscure component to a trip that is seldom given a second thought – that is until the crew arrives at the aircraft an hour late. A missed pick-up can lead to issues with duty day, slot assignments, and above all – the executive’s schedule.

Most service providers will have access to an enhanced transportation solution. Ideally, this would be in-house so that services on the ground are seamlessly coordinated with flight operations. Most service providers will use a third party, and while this may not be ideal, there are some basic things that all service providers should be doing to ensure that your crew and executives are not left out in the cold:

1. Advanced details: You should be provided with a confirmation that includes, at a minimum, the driver’s name and number and the vehicle information.

2. In-position call for arrival: 30 minutes before the arrival of the flight, your service provider should be contacting the driver to verify that:

• They are the confirmed driver
• They are driving the confirmed vehicle
• They have checked in with the FBO to announce they are there to pick up the passenger
• They are waiting in a designated location with any predetermined signage

3. Confirm departure pick-up time: Many times, the passengers will arrange the departure pick-up time with the driver directly. Your service provider should be contacting the driver to find out what the departure pick-up time will be.

4. In-position call for departure: 30 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time, your service provider should be contacting the driver to verify that:

• They are the confirmed driver
• They are driving the confirmed vehicle
• They have checked in with the hotel to announce they are there to pick up the passenger
• They are waiting in a designated location
• They know where to drop the passengers off

Most people don’t realize that this value-added service is available from their service providers for not much more than they are paying already. We recommend that you talk to your service provider and see what transportation and security services they offer that will provide you with the peace of mind that comes when everything is taken care of.