SubscribeThe aviation fire service may well be unknown to the common traveler. This small group of people is virtually unseen and unheard from the majority of the time. Perhaps this is good. Perhaps not. Now may well be the time for the public to hear us and hear us loud and clear.
For many years, the airport fire service seemed all but forgotten. Cost conscious management and very aware of the odds, many were maintained at a minimal standard and staffed very poorly. Over the last several years, many airport managers became aware of an ever-increasing trend to modernize and improve staffing at these remote located firehouses throughout the world. The last ten years seem to indicate the vast majority of change in the aviation fire service since the advent of aqueous film forming foam. Faster and more stable apparatus, extendable booms, twin agent nozzles with increased reach, and infrared cameras, have all made their mark in this rapidly changing industry. In fact, many advocate technology has caught up to it’s potential for the present times and man must now adapt and change for improved aviation fire fighting.
Of notable interest is the difference in basic requirements for airport fire protection between the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The differences are well known in agent requirements, response times, and even staffing levels. While at first glance they may seem very similar, the disparities are much greater when applied to actual fire fighting. Two of the three agencies have representation from all over the world, while the United States government controls the FAA exclusively.
A little over ten years ago, a group of aviation fire fighters gathered in Texas in an effort to eliminate disparities in training, and other related elements of the aviation fire service. The Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Working Group (ARFFWG) now boasts the largest membership of aviation fire fighters in the world. Members are comprised from all over the world and a forum exists for the sharing of information relative to airport fire fighters and the industry they serve. In fact, many members of the ARFFWG come from regulatory agencies and progress is being made in removing paradigms so etched in stone. Working with the fire service leaders of the industry, barriers are being removed and an audience has gathered to hear what we have to say.
Change will take time and diligent efforts by many. Each year the ARFFWG conducts a published survey of airport fire departments in an issue of the ARFF News. This data continues to support the efforts of the group seeking change in regulatory matters and philosophical management of the airport fire service. Every airport worldwide is encouraged to participate. It costs nothing but may eventually save the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people. The group also hosts numerous conferences and seminars aimed at improving the education of fire fighters in all facets of the industry. Every effort is made to keep these programs to the lowest possible cost. The web site of the ARFFWG can be viewed at www.arffwg.org and will keep members apprised of the various venues available to them. Membership in the organization is open to members of the industry and vendors supporting the industry. The web site provides a full list of membership benefits, categories, and costs.
As the aviation industry is facing perhaps it’s toughest times since the beginnings, it is important for groups to unite and carry a strong message to the public they serve. We must maintain a constant vigil in these uncertain times and be prepared to protect our customers. It is said that a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. Let us not be the weakest link in the aviation world.
