BASIC
AIRCRAFT FIREFIGHTING
TACTICS
A. Factors affecting firefighting and rescue tactics at the mishap scene.
1. Terrain and obstacles - Considers your response route, contour of the ground, trees, bodies of water, buildings, and the final resting position of the aircraft.
2. Wind direction - Every possible attempt should be made to take a position upwind from the mishap site, to protect personnel and equipment from the products of combustion.
3. Type of aircraft involved - The entry and exit points, as well as the forcible entry points of the particular aircraft involved will determine the best vehicle placement.
4. Aircrew stations and passenger locations within the aircraft - This factor considers the location of the life hazards and the possible need for cooling of the aircraft fuselage, and fire protection of the rescue points.
5. Fire location and degree of fire involvement - This factor considers the hindering of the fires progress, and protecting the aircraft areas not yet involved in the fire.
6. Presence of ordnance - This factor applies to military aircraft, and the tactic of cooling the ordnance exposed to fire, to prevent cookoff of the weapons.
B. Responding to the mishap scene.
1. A with any emergency response, the most direct route with optimal conditions should be used.
2. Independent routes are desired when emergency vehicles respond from multiple locations, to prevent possible bottlenecking and delay of multiple vehicles.
3. The speed of the emergency vehicle must be that which may be safely maintained, and allows safe maneuvering given the present conditions.
Warning: Driver/Operators should exercise extreme caution during their final approach to an aircraft mishap site to prevent injury to victims thrown or ejected from the aircraft, and to avoid obscured debris.
C. Basic Approach
Few incidents involving aircraft fire and rescue are identical, so the following factors should be considered guidelines for operation.
1. The basic approach and positioning of the aircraft firefighting vehicle should allow the most efficient control of the fire in the area or location where rescue is to be performed.
2. Normally, the first aircraft firefighting vehicle to arrive on scene will take up a position to provide a rescue path and fire suppression to the point of egress/entry of the aircraft.
3. It is important for the first arriving aircraft firefighting vehicle to be correctly positioned, as the subsequent arriving vehicles will compliment the positioning of the first vehicle, enlarging the pattern, and providing maximum coverage of the aircraft body.
Warning: All rescue personnel directly assigned to firefighting vehicles, except the driver/operators, shall wear protective clothing, but the driver/operators protective clothing and equipment should be carried on board the vehicle.
D. Spotting the vehicle on the aircraft.
1. The basic aircraft firefighting vehicle positioning is directly on the aircraft nose or tail, providing the maximum area of coverage of fire protection, along both sides of the aircraft fuselage. This means that with the nose of the aircraft designated as 6 o'clock, vehicles should be placed at 6 and 12 in relation to the aircraft.
2. Position the aircraft firefighting vehicles with the wind at your back, unless conditions dictate otherwise. This offers several advantages to the fire suppression effort.
a. It makes it easier to identify the seat of the fire.
b. Rescue personnel are less subjected to the products of combustion.
c. Fuel vapors are carried away from the personnel and firefighting vehicles.
d. The wind will help to carry and disperse the fire fighting agents to the seat of the fire.
3. Ordnance stores.
a. On aircraft carrying air launched weapons or forward firing guns, the basic vehicle positioning will be adjusted as to avoid placing them in the line of fire or backblast areas.
b. The desired positioning in this case will be from the quarters. This means with the nose of the aircraft being designated as 6 o'clock, arriving vehicles should be placed between 7 and 8, between 3 and 5, between 1 and 2, and between 10 and 11.
c. The area of coverage would then be expanded with attention directed to the application of extinguishing agent to the ordnance, facilitating cooling of the weapons to prevent launching or firing.
E. Initial fire attack
1. The initial attack begins during the approach of aircraft firefighting vehicles, using the roof and or bumper turrets as soon as the vehicle is within range of aircraft or involved fire area.
2. The turret operator should begin the fire attack using a straight stream pattern, allowing maximum reach to the seat of the fire. As the vehicle closes in on the aircraft, the pattern should be adjusted to a fog pattern, covering a larger portion of the fire area. In both situations, the fire extinguishing agent should be applied in a sweeping motion, allowing faster coverage of a larger area.
3. Handlines should be used to control and extinguish hidden or hard to reach exterior fires not extinguished by the turrets, to extinguish aircraft interior fires, and to cool the fuselage and any ordnance.
F. Composite Fiber Materials
1. Composite fiber materials, similar to fiberglass in construction, make up portions of the aircraft fuselage. The materials are comprised of carbon/graphite fibers, or boron/tungsten fibers, and may become airborne when shattered during a mishap, or subjected to fire or explosion. During exposure to fire, the bonding epoxy burns away, and releases fiber fragments into the atmosphere, and wind currents may carry these particles substantial distances.
2. In addition to these fibers being a respiratory hazard much like asbestos, they are highly conductive, and may cause damage to electrical components. Immediate action is required to protect electrical equipment and facilities.
3. Release of these fibers into the atmosphere may be minimized by application of floor wax via a garden type sprayer, to seal the fibers in place, and wrapping the exposed area in plastic.
4. All personnel not directly involved in the operations involving these fibers should remain upwind at a safe distance. Personnel involved should be in full protective equipment, and heavy work gloves, as these fibers may penetrate the skin of personnel coming into contact with them.
G. Receiving a report of an Aircraft Mishap
1. Should you ever receive a report of an aircraft mishap, attempt to obtain the following information should be from the person reporting the incident.
a. The name of the caller.
b. A call back number where the caller may be reached.
c. Type of aircraft involved, if known. If unknown, try to determine if a jet aircraft or propeller driven aircraft.
d. The location of the mishap, and possible landmarks to aid in the location of the mishap site.
e. Number of souls on board, if known. If unknown, try to determine if it was a smaller type aircraft, or possibly a passenger or cargo type aircraft.
f. Ask the caller to remain in the area, to assist responding personnel in locating the site of the mishap. The caller may also be required to make a statement relating to authorities what they may have seen or heard relating to the mishap.
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