Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting - Research Paper Example

 Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting It is a strange dilemma behind most of the scientific inventions that it has rising negative influence on the issues related to human safety. The slight misuse of any sensitive technology can construct a disaster. An aircraft is a classic example of such an invention. The agencies which are associated with rescue of people are known as rescue agencies and their dealings with such emergencies are termed as rescue operations. Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) belongs to a special branch of firefighting that deals with the aircraft ground emergencies at an airport. Diminishing the hazard along with rescue of passengers and air crew also come within its area of responsibility (International Society of Fire Service Instructors, Transportation Systems Center, 1988). Rescue and Firefighting stations are located on airports and are staffed 24 hours daily. The timely response and smooth execution of specified procedures are the most critical features of ARFF in terms of aircraft emergencies or fire eruption. This paper briefly highlights the activities of Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting squads on airports in handling of any crunch. Classes, Methods, and Extinguishers of Fire Prior to discuss the human factors on the airports, it is better to have a bird’s eye view on fire, its classes, and controlling methodologies of it. Fire is classified into three categories. Class ‘A’ fire occurs as a result of combination vegetable materials such as wood, paper, cotton, straw and mineral, such as coal and magnesium, is termed as Class ‘A’ fire. It is also known as solid fire. Class ‘B’ fire involves materials such as petroleum, gasoline, oil, greases, fats, spirits, alcohol and rubber. It is also called liquid fire. Class ‘C’ fire is that fire which involves electrically operated instruments and appliances. It is also known as electrical fire (Wieder IFSTA, 2008). There are three methods employed for the extinction of fires related to aircraft rescue. The first method is cooling. This means reducing the temperature below the ignition point. Smothering is the second method that means reducing the oxygen content within the fire area below the burnable limits. Starvation is the third way of controlling the fire. It involves removal of the fuel from the scene of the fire (Wieder IFSTA, 2008). These methods of fire control are extremely important to the fire crew engaged on aircraft rescue and other structural firefighting. The proper selection of an extinguishing agent is the most important single factor in fire fighting operation. Class ‘A’ fire is to be fought with water or an agent containing water so that the deep seated amber’s of wood, cloth and other Class ‘A’ materials can be reached by absorption and penetration. Class ‘B’ (flammable liquid) normally requires those extinguishing agents which have smothering effect i.e. CO2 gas, foam or dry chemical powder. The extinguishing agents recommended for Class ‘C’ fire is dry chemical powder. When selecting an extinguishing agent for Class ‘C’ fire consideration is to be given to its electrical conductivity (Lindstrom & Stewart, 2001). Fire Apparatus with ARFF Generally the fire fighting appliances and vehicles are made available with respect to traffic of the airports. In many countries like United Kingdom, airports are having been distributed in categories. International Civil Aviation Organization has categorized the airports for rescue and fire fighting services as shown in the table given on next page. Conventionally, the ARFF possess specialized and extensive fire and rescue apparatus on those airports which deal with biggest aircraft. In current scenario, these fire appliances are mounted with huge vehicles to supplement their performance in crisis. In different countries, these vehicles are called by different names like first strike, Rapid Intervention Vehicles, or Crash Tenders etc. Since on airports, any sad incident may occur at anytime and at any place, therefore provision of rescue and fire vehicles is primarily based on their water carrying capacity, speed, discharge rate of fire agent, and off-road effectiveness. Table 1 Aerodrome category for rescue and firefighting Aerodrome Category Aeroplane overall Length Maximum fuselage width 1 0 m up to but not including 9 m 2 m 2 9 m up to but not including 12 m 2 m 3 12 m up to but not including 18 m 3 m 4 18 m up to but not including 24 m 4 m 5 24 m up to but not including 28 m 4 m 6 28 m up to but not including 39 m 5 m 7 39 m up to but not including 49 m 5 m 8 49 m up to but not including 61 m 7 m 9 61 m up to but not including 76 m 7 m 10 76 m up to but not including 90 m 8 m (Source: ICAO Aerodrome Design and Operations, Chapter 9 Annex 9.2.6) Since these vehicles are equipped with powerful engines, therefore they should arrive at the area of interest or victim aircraft within three minutes. At most of the airports, normally one to three crash tenders is placed as per the category of the respective airport (ICAO Annex 9.2.23 & 9.2.37). They consist of a roof-mounted nozzle capable of shunt and sprinkling of fire extinguishing agents at great distances. The size of these vehicles varies from very small Range Rover fire fittings to huge truck based pumps. As a whole these aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles are equipped with following features. (a) 500 gallon (minimum) water tank (b) Crash Tender must be effective and capable to operate on rough terrain up to grades 9% (c) Equipment should be capable to propel the water from a 10 foot lift. Normally pump should be of 150 GPM at 250 PSI rated capacity (d) High visibility and contrasting markings in accordance with NFPA 1901 (e) Lighting and warning devices as well as siren with at least 120 DB rating and PA system (f) Minimum ARFF foam supply for 500 gallons of water is 6%: 30 gallons or, 3%: 15 gallons or 1%: 5 gallons (g) 500’ double jacket 1.5” or 1.75” synthetic hose, coupled with 1.5” NH in 50 ft lengths. 300’ or 400’ of which are configured as pre-connected assault hose lines in hose trays; immediately available for rapid initial attack (ICAO, 2009). Personal Protective Equipment Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting staffs use some special sort of shielding ensembles which are called fire proximity suits (ICAO Annex 9.2.42, 2009). Due to burning fuels, ruthless crash or serious aircraft emergency produces intense radiant heat. These special ensembles are encrusted with silvered stuff which has the attribute to replicate the radiant heat away from their bodies. Along with this proximity suit, firefighters wear self-contained breathing apparatus. In the presence of smoke, fire and super-heated gases, it becomes very hard and tough to fight against the fire and do rescue operation especially entering and evacuating the crew from a burning cabin is something very special challenge. There is another extensively laborious nature of task which ARFF staff performs. This is the secure evacuation of ambulatory passengers from the burning aircraft as well as to provide them with them necessary first aid medical treatment. As per International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), each ARFF member must be equipped with functional and appropriately en suite apparatus listed below. Structural Firefighting Helmet with shield or goggles Structural Firefighting gloves Structural Firefighting boots. Structural Firefighting hood. Structural firefighting turnout coat and pants Standard federal fire shelter When the subsequent emergency gets over or declared under control then the ARFF role and task converts to protect the damage area and eliminating or mitigating the adverse effects of contingency toward its peripherals so that not only the remaining assets may be secured but also preserve the victim area or aircraft for future investigation. Fire Rescue Operation B-707 Aircraft When aircraft accidents occur on the airport of any nature, the firefighting squad is required to work at high speed under physical and mental tension. Under such conditions fatal mistakes can be made unless aircraft rescue and firefighting squad is familiar with the aircraft construction, procedures for crash fire fighting and rescue of aircrew and other casualties. In all emergencies involving aircraft accidents, time is of vital importance. Only seconds may decide the life and death of aircrew or passengers. Familiarization with the aircraft and crash fire fighting procedures is to contribute a lot towards the efficiency of an aircraft rescue firefighter. Opening of Doors of B-707 from Outside A 30 feet ladder is required to approach the B-707 doors from outside. The small push button at the top of the door handle is pressed before moving the handle clockwise to open the door. For take off and landing the door position is automatic and not manual. That means the emergency exit chutes are automatically deployed whenever the doors are opened in automatic position. So in case of accident during the departure or arrival of aircraft if door is to be opened from outside, the stair from outside are deployed on one side of the door to avoid damage and injury by the automatic deployment of exit emergency chutes. Cockpit Crew Unconscious In case cockpit crew is unconscious, the firefighters enter into cockpit to turn off the power and operate fire bottles for extinguishing fire on any of the four engines. The ARFF squad approaches to the cockpit through the stairs of top deck or from the emergency doors of the cockpit and take following actions in the order listed. (a) Turn off the battery switch. (b) Pull back the four throttles simultaneously to cut power to engines. (c) Pull the ‘T’ handle which is blinking red (Blinking red means that the engine which the ‘T’ handle represent is on fire, if all four ‘T’ handles are blinking this means all the four engines are on fire). Pulling the ‘T’ handle out off fuel, hydraulic and other system supplies to that particular engine. (d) Next to each ‘T’ handle is the push button (under the lid) which operates fire extinguishing bottle on the respective engine. There are two bottles for each engine. One push operates one bottle and second push operates second bottle. These steps are just a sketchy guide line and ARFF get them acquainted by undergoing on the job training on B-707. Active civil aviation authorities arrange such refresher courses and training sessions at least once a year. They should know the exact location and number of doors, important switches, fire extinguisher, their type, location etc. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighters should know that for extinguishing engine fire, application of foam from outside is not enough, and CO2 is to be used for deep penetration into the engine. There is no short cut to actual practice on the aircraft. Rescue Operation by ARFF Crew After entering into the aircraft, following procedures are adopted:- (a) Climb up in the flight deck. (b) Pull throttles fully back. (c) Bring condition levers to “Feather” positions. (d) Put Battery switch to “OFF” (e) Disconnect headset leads of pilot (f) Remove Oxygen Mask, if attached (g) Disconnect oxygen hose (h) Unfasten seat belts. However, if helmet of pilots are on, it should not be removed. (i) Put arms rest down (j) Move the seats back with the help of lever handle located at the left hand side of seats (k) Rescue the crew Training and Qualification The most critical factors to accomplish a rescue operation in a survivable aircraft are the training of rescue squad, effectiveness of the apparatus, and the speedy reaction of the personnel and equipment to the mission. The main objective of Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting staff is to save human life. Since, the nature of job of ARFF needs team coordination to accomplish a certain mission as desired; therefore, the training program should focus on human performance along with team coordination. This staff should be thoroughly trained before their deployment for practical duties on airports so that they can perform their duties efficiently and contribute their significant role in flight safety (ICAO Annex 9.2.38 & 9.2.39, 2009). The cyclic training is mandatory for this safety related staff due to their nature of duty. In UK, ARFF members have to re-qualify after each four years. Conclusion Airports may have regulatory oversight by an arm of their individual national governments or voluntarily under standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Due to the mass casualty potential of an aviation emergency, the speed with which emergency response equipment and personnel arrive at the scene of the emergency is of paramount importance. Their arrival and initial mission to secure the aircraft against all hazards, particularly fire, increases the survivability of the passengers and crew on board. Airport firefighters have advanced training in the application of firefighting foams, dry chemical and clean agents used to extinguish burning aviation fuel in and around an aircraft in order to maintain a path for evacuating passengers to exit the fire hazard area. Further, should fire either be encountered in the cabin or extend there from an external fire, the ARFF responders must work to control/extinguish these fires as well. References International Civil Aviation Organization (2009). Aerodrome Design and Operations, 5th Edition, Volume 14, Chapter 9, Annex 9.2.23, 9.2.37, 9.2.38, 9.2.39 International Society of Fire Service Instructors, Transportation Systems Center (1988). Aircraft rescue and firefighting: student manual, the Society publishers Lindstrom, R., & Stewart, P. (2001). Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, 4th Edition, International Fire Service Training Association Wieder, A, Michael. International Fire Service Training Association (2008). Study guide for the fifth edition of Aircraft rescue and fire fighting, 5th Edition, Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University Read More