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This page is the home of information and guidance for Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services.

Certificated Aerodromes

UK Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 requires aerodrome operators to have an emergency plan in place. This must:                                     

  • Be proportionate to the aircraft operations and other activities taking place at the aerodrome;
  • Provide for the coordination of appropriate organisations to respond to an emergency at the aerodrome or in its surroundings;
  • Contain procedures for testing the adequacy of the plan, and for reviewing the results in order to improve its effectiveness.

One of the major parts of this plan is the provision of airport rescue and fire fighting services (RFFS) with adequate equipment, fire-extinguishing agents and properly trained personnel to respond to emergencies efficiently.

Licensed Aerodromes

Chapter 8 of CAP168 sets out the minimum requirements to be met in the provision of RFFS at  licensed aerodromes. Guidance is also given on the equipment, extinguishing agents, personnel, training and emergency procedures.

Chapter 9 of CAP168 sets out the requirements for the establishment of an emergency plan. This must:

  • Be proportionate to the aircraft operations and other activities taking place at the aerodrome;
  • Provide for the coordination of appropriate organisations to respond to an emergency at the aerodrome or in its surroundings;
  • Contain procedures for testing the adequacy of the plan, and for reviewing the results in order to improve its effectiveness.

By following the Useful Links and the information below, you will find information and guidance to support the provision of RFFS and other emergency arrangements at Aerodromes.

Aerodrome Emergency Planning

Information & guidance relating to Aerodrome emergency planning arrangements.

Close Aerodrome Emergency Planning

Comms and Alerting Systems

Information & guidance relating to RFFS communications and alerting systems.

Close Comms and Alerting Systems

Level of Protection

Information & guidance relating to the analysis and calculation of RFFS resources.

Close Level of Protection

Extinguishing Agents

Information and guidance relating to extinguishing agents.

The following link to the FAA’s website provides information that will be of use when considering a transition from AFFF concentrates or similar to a fluorine free foam concentrate:

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov)

Close Extinguishing Agents

Response Time

Information and guidance relating to response time principles and assessment.

Close Response Time

Personnel

Information and guidance relating to training and proficiency of RFFS personnel.



NHS SNOMED codes are now available for firefighters and can be registered with GPs.

The codes are internationally recognised and are known to all Primary Care facilities. The codes are useful as they highlight the role of firefighters and their exposure to toxins.

The codes are known known as 'SNOMED CT', and the SNOMED code for Fire fighter is as follows:

Firefighter - 106382009

Occupational exposure to toxic agents - 16090571000119109

Close Personnel

Medical & Fitness

Information and guidance relating to medical and fitness programmes.

Close Medical & Fitness

Innovations

Information and guidance relating to how aviation innovations impact RFFS response and Emergency Planning arrangements. This may include alternative fuels, urban air mobility, vertiports, extinguishing agents, etc.

Close Innovations

 

Emerging topics

In this section, we will be providing useful information to aerodromes on emerging topics. If you have any issues that you would like us to provide information on, please email us at aerodromes.ATM@caa.co.uk, including 'RFFS' in the subject line of the email.