RFFSProcedures

AirsideOperationalInstruction18



Content

1.ProceduresIntroduction
2.RFFSCategory
3.DepletionofRFFS
4.AlertingRFFS
5.ResponseTimes
6.ExtraneousDuties
7.SafetyAccountabilities
8.EquipmentProvided
9.CompetenceofRFFSPersonnel
10.FirstAidandMedicalProvision

AirsideOperationalInstruction18 RFFSProcedures

SECTION1INTRODUCTION

1. ThepurposeofthisAOIistodetailtheAirportsRFFSprocedures.

2. SpecificinstructionscanbelocatedinRFFSsStandardOperatingProcedures(SOPs).

3. DetailsofRFFSsresponsetoemergenciescanbelocatedintheAerodromeEmergencyPlan.

SECTION2RFFSCATEGORY

1. EMAprovidescategory8(Aeroplanedimensionshavinganoveralllengthof49muptobut
notincluding61mandamaximumfuselagewidthof7m)RFFScoverbetween06.30&17.30
and category 7 (Aeroplane dimensions having an overall length of 39m up to but not
including 49m and a maximum fuselage width of 5m) RFFS cover between 17.30 & 06.30
seven days a week. All RFFS category cover will be provided for a minimum of fifteen
minutesaftertheactualtimeofdepartureorlandingofanaircraft.Safetypoliciesensure
thattheminimumlevelsofappliances,mediaandequipmentwillbeavailableatalltimes.

2. Any additional requests for category 8 (outside of promulgated hours) or category 9

(Aeroplanedimensionshavinganoveralllengthof61muptobutnotincluding76manda
maximumfuselagewidthof7m)publictransportaircraftmovementsshouldbedirectedto
the RFFS Station Manager on 01332 852999 no less than 2 hours prior to the aircraft
movement. The Station Manager will advise ATC of the change in category when it is
established.

3. TheRFFSwillprovidefirecoverforaircraftwhichdonotrequirealicensedfacility.Thisis
providedonascaleappropriatetotheaerodromesRFFScategory.

4. Each RFFS watch consists of 12 personnel, including one Station Manager, one Watch
Manager, two Crew Managers and eight fire fighters. The manning of appliances is
dependant upon which vehicles are available, and their capacity but will always have a
minimumrankofacrewmanager/actingcrewmanagerinchargeofeachvehicle.

5. Staffingandsupervisorylevelforeachcategoryareconcurrentwiththeestablishedtaskand
resourceanalysis(TRA):

Cat9 min.12personnelwith3appropriatelyqualifiedsupervisorystaffonduty
Cat8 min.10personnelwith3appropriatelyqualifiedsupervisorystaffonduty
Cat7 min.09personnelwith3appropriatelyqualifiedsupervisorystaffonduty

6. Extinguishing mediaiscarriedonalloperational firevehicles. The principalmediaused is

foamwhichmeetsperformancelevelBspecification.Thesecondarymediaisprimarilydry
powder.Sufficientmediaismadeavailabletomeetcategory9requirementsatalltimes.In
excessof200%reservesoffoamconcentrateand100%ofcomplementaryagentsareheld.

7. Details appertaining to the number of RFFS foam producing appliances together with the
amountsofmediaprovidedanddischargeratesarereferredtoinRFFSSOP2.

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AirsideOperationalInstruction18 RFFSProcedures

SECTION3DEPLETIONOFTHERFFS

1. IntheeventofunexpecteddepletionintheRFFScategory,theStationManagerwillinform
ATCthatitmaybenecessarytorestrictthemovementsofaircraftusingtheaerodromeuntil
thecategoryhasbeenrestored.

2. If thedepletion is through mechanical failure, the Station Manager will inform ATC of the
RFFScategorybyuseofthevehicleavailabilitychartsreferredtoinRFFSSOP2(minimum
levels of RFFS protection available) with an estimation of the time required to return to
normaloperations.

3. If the depletion is caused by staffing issues then the station manager will refer to RFFS
Station Standing Order 8 (recall to work) and inform ATC of the RFFS category with an
estimationofthetimerequiredtoreturntonormaloperations.

4. Anysignificantchangesthatwarrantarestrictioninusagewillbepromulgatedtoairlinesvia
aNOTAM,andtheCAAshouldbeinformed.

SECTION4ALERTINGTHERFFS

1. TheaircraftmovementareaismonitoredatalltimesbyATC,AirfieldOperations/Fire
ControlandAirfieldOperationsdutypersonnel.

2. The EMA RFFS are alerted to an incident by use of the crash alarm (if a full turn out is
required),whichwillbeinitiatedusingoneofthefollowingmethods:

a. ATC may activate the crash alarm for an aircraft accident, an imminent aircraft
accident,anaircraftgroundincident,oratanyothertimeinwhichthefullattendance
oftheRFFSisdeemednecessary.

b. Operations(Fire)Controlmayactivatethecrashalarmiftheysee,orhavereportsof,
anyaircraftincidentwhichrequiresthefullattendanceofRFFS.

c. Any member of RFFS who is on duty and sees an incident which requires the full
attendanceofRFFSmaytriggerthealarm.

3. IfRFFSarenotattheFireStation,theywillbealertedviaRTfromeitherATCorOperations
(Fire)Control.

4. Shouldonevehicleonlyberequiredtorespondtoanincident,RFFSwillbealertedbythe
useofalocalalarm,inconjunctionwithatannoymessagefromOperations(Fire)Control.

5. Should anyoneneed to alerttheRFFS of anincident, they shoulddosoby contactingthe
AirportsEmergencyPhoneononeofthefollowing:

a. Internalextensionnumber3333
b. Externaldial01332818555

These numbers are for emergencies only. Any person requiring first aid or emergency
assistancemustnotattempttocontactRFFSdirect.

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AirsideOperationalInstruction18 RFFSProcedures

6. Tenant companies who do not have access to the airport internal phone system should
telephone01332818555.However,ifamemberoftheirstaffdials999aphonecallshould
thenbemadetoEMAon01332818555toinformthemthattheemergencyserviceshave
beencalled.

SECTION5RESPONSETIMES

1. The operational objective of the RFFS is to respond as quickly as possible to aircraft

accidents and/or incidents in order to create maximum opportunity for saving life.
Achievements of responsetimesaredependentonthesizeofaerodrome,locationoffire
station(s)anddispositionofvehiclesandpersonnelatanygiventime.

2. The operational objective of the rescue and fire fighting service shall be to achieve a
response time not exceeding three minutes to any point of each operational runway, in
optimumvisibilityandsurfaceconditions.

3. The operational objective of the rescue and fire fighting service should be to achieve a
response time not exceeding three minutes to any other part of the movement area in
optimumvisibilityandsurfaceconditions.

4. The operational objective of the rescue and fire fighting service should be to achieve a
response time not exceeding two minutes to any point of each operational runway, in
optimumvisibilityandsurfaceconditions.

5. Response time is considered to be the time between the initial call to the rescue and
firefightingserviceandthetimewhenthefirstrespondingvehicle(s)is(are)inpositionto
apply foam at a rate of at least 50 per cent of the discharge rate specified in CAP 168,
Chapter8.

NOTE: Optimumvisibilityandsurfaceconditionsaredefinedasdaytime,goodvisibility,no
precipitationwithnormalresponseroutefreeofsurfacecontaminatione.g.water,
iceorsnowandaircraftconflicts.

6. TheadequacyofRFFSresponsetimecapability,throughouttheirfunctionsandlocationsis
monitored through the recording of test turn out details onto an internal EMA database.
Results are analysed to ensure response time capabilities are maintained. Should
deficienciesbehighlighted,necessaryremedialactionwillbetaken.

7. FurtherdetailscanbelocatedinRFFSSOP42ResponseTimePolicy.

SECTION6EXTRANEOUSDUTIES

1. TheRFFSare,onoccasion,requiredtoundertakeextraneousdutiestoensurethecontinued
safeworkingoftheAirport.Thesedutiesinclude:

a. EnvironmentalIncidentResponse
b. Runwayinspections
c. Snowclearing

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d. Sweepingofmovementareas
e. Deicingofmovementareas
f. Firstaidcalls(assistancerequest)
g. Automaticfirealarmsinairportbuildings
h. Movementsurfacerepairs

2. TheStationManagerwillconsiderthedutycrewstrengthandassesswhetherthereleaseof
personneltocarryoutextraneousdutieswillaffectthepromulgatedaerodromecategory,
RFFS response time or a possible restriction/closure of the airport, in line with the
extraneousdutiesassessment.

3. AllcrewmembersundertakingextraneousdutiesmustinformOperations(Fire)Controland
maintain contact on channel 4 to ensure that they can be recalled to the Fire Station if
necessary. Where relevant, Air Traffic Control should also be informedof any changes to
categoryandcontactmaintainedwherenecessary.

SECTION7SAFETYACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Detailed below is a brief description of the RFFS safety responsibilities. A more detailed
safetymanagementstructurecanbefoundinthePartBoftheAerodromeManual.

2. TheSeniorAirportFireOfficerisresponsibleforthemanagementoftheRFFSandensuring
thatitisoperationallyeffective.TheyareaccountabletotheHeadofOperations,whohas
overallresponsibilityforalloperationsontheairfield.

3. The RFFS Station Manager is responsible, during their watch, for the safe and effective
provisionofRFFScover,aswellasbeingresponsibleformaintainingasafeenvironmenton
andaroundtherunwayandtaxiways.TheyarealsoresponsibleforRFFSdeicingandsnow
clearingoperations.TheStationManagerisresponsibleforinitiatingtheRFFSresponseto
anemergency,aswellasensuringthattheIncidentCommandSystemisestablishedduring
an incident until it is handed over to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. They are
accountabletotheSeniorAirportFireOfficer.

4. The SAFO is responsible for ensuring that all RFFS personnel are adequately trained to
complywithmandatoryandlegislativerequirements.TheyareaccountabletotheHeadof
Operations.

SECTION8EQUIPMENTPROVIDED

1. Rescueequipmentisheldonsiteforservicesupto,andincluding,category9operationsand
iscarriedonoperationalvehicles.

2. Additionalmedicalandrescueequipmentiscarriedontheancillaryfireappliance,callsign
Rescue7whichwillbemobilisedattherequestoftheRFFSStationManager.Detailsof
thisequipmentarecontainedwithintheAerodromeEmergencyPlan.

3. Environmentalprotectionequipmentiscarriedonapurposebuilttrailer(callsignRescue8).

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4. Additional equipment for aircraft recovery following an incident is held by RFFS. This
includes a limited quantity of chains, straps and portable winches rated up to 5 tons.
FurtherdetailscanbefoundinAOI19DisabledAircraftRecoveryPlan.

5. CAP 168 requires that all fire and rescue vehicles be fitted with radio communication
equipment.ThefollowingradioequipmentisheldbyRFFS:

a. MainUHFsetsoperatingonchannels1throughto8
b. 9handsetsoperatingonmultiplefrequencies
c. Mobiletelephones
d. Baseradiosetsinthefirevehiclesprovideacommunicationcapabilitywithaircrafton
121.6MHz.Inadditiontothis,twohandsetsalsooperateonthisfrequency.
e. Handsets are made available for the Local Authority Fire Service during emergency
situations.

6. Fireappliancesandequipmentarecheckedonwatchchangeover.Inaddition,inspections
areconductedonaperiodicbasis.Allequipmenttestsarecarriedoutinaccordancewith
themanufacturersinstructions,andaredoneinconjunctionwiththeFireServicesManual
Volume1InspectionandTestingofEquipment.

SECTION9COMPETENCEOFRFFSPERSONNEL

1. InaccordancewithCAP168,Chapter8,allRFFSpersonnelaretrainedatanestablishment
approvedbytheCAA.Onsuccessfulcompletionacertificateofcompetenceisissued.An
inhouseMaintenanceofCompetency(MOC)schemehasbeendevelopedandaccepted
bytheCAAforthetrainingoffirefightersinaccordancewiththestandardsstatedinCAP
699.TheMOCschemeisdesignedtoensurecompetencyinallsubjectsincluding:Hotfires,
realisticfuelfiretraining,breathingapparatustraininginheatandsmokeandfirstaidovera
twenty four month period, at the end of which the successful candidates are awarded a
certificateofcompetence.

2. Inadditiontotheabove,RFFSalsoundertakejointtrainingandfamiliarisationwiththeLocal
AuthorityFireService.

3. TheSAFOensuresthatthecompetenceofpersonnelismaintainedatstationlevelthrougha
stricttrainingregimewhichcomplieswithCAP699.Thepackagetakesintoaccountallof
theskillsrequiredbyRFFSpersonneltocarryoutrescueandfirefightingdutiesasrequired.
Theleveloftrainingrequired,anditsfrequency,isdetailedintheRFFSTrainingPlan.The
keyareasarelistedintheEMARFFSPolicyonMandatoryTrainingofRFFSpersonnel.

SECTION10FIRSTAIDANDMEDICALPROVISION

1. No ambulance is provided on the airfield. Response is provided by the East Midlands

AmbulanceService.

2. AllRFFSpersonnelareEMASfirstaid(coresponderlevel)trained.

3. Medicals supplies sufficient for Category 9 are held on the airport site and would be
transportedtoanincidentsiteintheancillaryfireappliance(Rescue7).

4. FurtherdetailsofemergencyandfirstaidequipmentarecontainedwithintheAerodrome
EmergencyPlan.
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