CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston leadership has authorized Yellow Cab taxi service access to the base for customers starting Oct. 1.
Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander, recently authorized Yellow Cab taxi to come on base to pick people up and drop them off. Yellow Cab will charge for the fare; however, they are now authorized to drop Team Charleston members off at their final destination on base, instead of being required to leave people at the front gate because they were not allowed access to the base.
Allowing Yellow Cab to operate is a change in the qualification requirements to operate on the base. The base will expand the list as other companies meet qualifications.
Since 9/11, there have been many changes in the entry procedures for the base. In the past, when people called a taxi, they had to be dropped off at the gate shack and would have to find their own way to the dorms, their residence or other destination. Taxi service on Charleston AFB has been limited until now. Yellow Cab taxi meets all requirements to come on base and will begin picking up and dropping off members as needed,
However, certain requirements still must be met:
· People requesting taxi service from the base also need to contact the 437th Security Forces Squadron Control Center at 963-3600. Notify the desk sergeant that Yellow Cab taxi will be arriving on base for pick-up. The desk sergeant will then notify the Dorchester or Rivers Gate entry controllers. When the taxi arrives the driver will give his credentials to the guard and proceed on base. The driver will be given a maximum time of 30 minutes for pick up and to return to the gate. The driver's credentials will be returned to him upon leaving the base.
· Off-base members coming on base will show their authorized identification to enter the base and the operator of the cab will surrender their credentials to the gate guard when they approach the gate. The taxi driver will then be given a maximum time of 30 minutes for drop off at the designated location and to return to the gate to retrieve their credentials.
Airmen can still call another cab company, but are reminded that they will not be authorized to come on Charleston AFB because they have not been approved through the base and will be dropped off at the gate to find another way to get to their final destination
For more information, contact the 437 SFS Pass and Registration Office at 963-7807.