Airport Fire Service

In the airport fire services are usually referred to as "rescue and firefighting services" in contrast to the term "fire and rescue service" (FRS) used by local authority fire services. Role of airport fire services The principal objective of an airport fire and rescue service is "to save lives in the event of an aircraft accident or incident". This also applies to any other incident where life and property can be saved. Levels of fire cover The number and type of firefighting appliances based at an airport will be determined by the airport's category and task and resource analysis (TRA). A category 10 airport caters for the biggest aircraft, namely the Airbus A380, and therefore requires extensive rescue and firefighting cover as determined by the Civil Aviation Authority. Airports in the UK are categorised from 1 to 10 dependent on the type and size of aircraft they handle. Often the RFFS will also be responsible for providing medical cover at the airport. The majority of UK airport firefighters are trained to emergency medical technician status. Levels of response The airport RFFS will respond to all aircraft emergencies within the airport's boundaries and will also respond to off-airport incidents that fall within a 6-degree cone from the end of each runway. If a special request has been made by the local authority, then dependent on circumstances, major foam tenders may be dispatched. All incidents that occur outside of the airport boundary are the responsibility of the local authority fire and rescue service serving that location. Whilst local authority FRS firefighters are trained to deal with aircraft accidents they do not receive the same level of training as airport firefighters whose expertise is more specialist. Airport crews do not respond to non-aircraft incidents off-site, as this would leave the airport without fire cover. By law, if an airport has no fire cover it has to close its runways to passenger aircraft unless in an emergency, when it is at the discretion of the captain of the aircraft. This clearly would cause major disruption for air travel and scheduled flights.

A mandatory fire station for airport.

Nice