Flightline vehicle checks are mostly a FOD problem and a speed problem. Any vehicle driven primarily on the flightline for aircraft maintenance support must carry a secured, lidded foreign-object container, and magnetic bars — if the unit uses them — get inspected and cleared daily. On the driving side, speed must be reasonable and prudent for the conditions, with Follow Me vehicles the named exception to the posted limit.
Readers asked this on CheckMyRegs and CheckMyAFI 15 times — this page answers it from the official catalogs and the publications’ own text.
| Branch | Controlling publication | Dated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | DAFI 21-101 Current FOD container and magnetic bar requirements | 2023-12-20 | Official link |
| Army | AR 750-1 Current Army materiel maintenance policy | 2026-04-29 | Official link |
| Navy | OPNAVINST 4790.2K Current Naval Aviation Maintenance Program equivalent | 2025-04-25 | Official link |
| Marine Corps | MCO 4790.25 Current Ground equipment maintenance program | 2014-01-12 | Official link |
Every vehicle driven primarily on the flightline for direct aircraft maintenance support must be equipped with a secured and lidded foreign-object container, and a permanently affixed container needs Vehicle Management approval before installation.
“11.8.3.7.1. All vehicles driven primarily on the flightline for direct aircraft maintenance support activities must be equipped with secured and lidded FO containers. (T-2) Note: Permanently affixed FO containers must be approved by Vehicle Management prior to installation IAW AFI 24-302.”
Magnetic bars are optional, but a unit that uses them must tow or attach them to vehicles primarily used on the flightline and inspect them free of foreign objects every day.
“11.8.3.17. Use of magnetic bars on the flightline is optional. If used, the magnetic bars will be towed by, or attached to vehicles primarily used on the flightline and will be inspected and made FOD free daily. (T-2)”
No vehicle — including motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles — may be driven faster than is reasonable and prudent for the existing traffic, road and weather, and emergency vehicles do not automatically assume right of way.
“4.8. Vehicle speed limits on the airfield. No vehicle (including motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles or tricycles) shall be operated at a speed in excess of that deemed reasonable and prudent for existing traffic, road and weathers. (T -2). Emergency vehicles will not automatically assume the right of way. (T-2). Note: Vehicles responding to red balls (emergency airfield scenarios), exercises and precautionary landings are not authorized to exceed posted flight line speed limits. Speed limits on the airfields are designated as follows:”
Follow Me vehicles are the named exception and may exceed the fifteen mile per hour flightline limit when necessary to match a safe aircraft taxi speed.
“4.8.11. “Follow Me” vehicles may exceed the 15 mph flight line speed limit when necessary to accommodate the safe taxiing speed of aircraft.”
Damaged pavement, flightline construction and other hazards in or near parking ramps and taxiways get inspected periodically, reported to the airfield manager, and tracked until repaired.
“11.8.5.5. Periodically inspect and report damaged pavement, flightline construction, or other hazards in or near aircraft parking ramps or taxiways to the airfield manager and monitor status to ensure timely repairs. (T-2)”
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Updated 2026-08-01. CheckMyRegs is an unofficial index — always cite the official publication.