Follow that Fokker ...
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Follow that Fokker ...
... or words to that effect. I frequently hear heavies being told to "follow the company 737", "after the company 757 line up" etc etc. I've heard it all over the place, and always assumed it meant an aircraft of the same commercial company as the one being addressed : however, I saw for myself today that this wasn't the case. Probably should have noticed years ago, but wasn't paying attention - must try harder etc 
Anyway, anybody care to enlighten me ? Apologies if this puts me in the "numpty" corner !
FF
Anyway, anybody care to enlighten me ? Apologies if this puts me in the "numpty" corner !
FF
Fly Conventional Gear
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Apologies if this puts me in the "numpty" corner !
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(From memory)
"Air France 332, follow the KLM 737 to runway XX"
"You mean follow the COMPANY 737 to runway XX"
"Sorry, Air France 332, follow the COMPANY 737 to runway XX"
"Behind the COMPANY 737 to runway XX, Air France 332"
This was the day after the Air France-KLM merger was announced.
"Air France 332, follow the KLM 737 to runway XX"
"You mean follow the COMPANY 737 to runway XX"
"Sorry, Air France 332, follow the COMPANY 737 to runway XX"
"Behind the COMPANY 737 to runway XX, Air France 332"
This was the day after the Air France-KLM merger was announced.
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Confusion - of all sorts - can sometimes arise when an aircraft is being operated by one company but in the livery of another. At busy airports, by saying follow the company 737 or whatever, the controller is reducing the risk of the wrong aircraft being identified by the following pilot and, sometimes, reducing the RTF necessary. Using this technique when the company aircraft doesn't look like a company aircraft is poor practice....and confusing to others who do not have the same situational picture that the pilot and controller involved in the exchange may have.
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I just asked this question in ATC forum and the answer was...."follow company aircraft" means just that....follow the aircraft of the same company/operator as yourself.
