Page 15 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 Online Magazine

AVIATION SAFETY

The Rosenbauer has captured
the market for Aircraft Rescue
and Firefighting (ARFF)
vehicles at Indian airports, the
Panther 6x6 in the picture
is one of four in operation
Kempegowda International
Airport in Bengaluru

also operate as a Cat-10 airport, to cater should not exceed three minutes for while responding to emergencies and also
for operations of Boeing 747-8 and Airbus visibility of 2500 m or better in dry, paved feature a root mounted Forward Looking
A380 (yet to land at the airport)” says surface conditions. Aircraft crash fires are Infrared (FLIR) camera for enhanced
Ajith Kumar, Head, Aircraft Rescue and dangerous due their high intensity and vision during low visibility conditions
Firefighting (ARFF) at BIAL. The ARFF temperatures. The survivable time of an caused by smoke or fog. The FLIR camera
team at BIAL is certified with Cat-9 level occupant in a burning aircraft has been can help find hot spots in a burning
of protection and commenced operations proven to be not more than 136 seconds, aircraft and enable rescue crew to apply
from May 2008. From May 2010, it was unless the temperature is brought down the appropriate fire retardant or decide an
certified by India’s Directorate General of to bearable conditions. Aircraft accident entry point into a burning aircraft.
Civil Aviation (DGCA) allowing it to offer analysis reveal that most of the accidents Rosenbauer has also continuously
scalable to Cat-10 protection. happen during landing and take-off improved its offerings and the new
Ajith adds that “Once the airport phase, hence the survival chances reduce Panther S 6X6 launched last year, is a
expands and has a second runway, we will if rescue equipment with sufficient lighter and more compact version of the
have a second fire station to meet Cat- quantity of firefighting media and trained popular ARFF vehicle series, yet with
10 levels and expand the ARFF facility to man power provided is not provided on identical performance. Spirit Design was
include two ACFT’s with High Reachable time. asked to design the new vehicle. With a
Extended Turret (HRET)”. Commenting ACFT’s like the Panther 6x6 act as fully width of 2.5 m, it is half a meter narrower
on the performance of the Panther 6x6 self-contained units with sophisticated and the smaller size allows it to be used
ACFT in BIAL service, he says that “The firefighting and rescue equipment to meet on public roads, which it means it can also
reliability has been high and we have an airport aircraft emergency. The BIAL be called on to tackle accident situations
not faced a single breakdown in eight Panthers, each have a capacity to carry outside the airport. The S series is much
years of operation and support from the 12,500 litres of water, 1500 litres of foam better suited for operations at smaller
manufacturer has been very good”. concentrate and 250 kgs of dry chemical regional and domestic airports and could
ARFF operations with the Panther powder. Powerful pumps enable the roof also prove attractive to the Indian market.
will assume increased importance for mounted jet to deliver 6,000 litres of water It can deliver up to 6,000 litres of water a
firefighting and rescue services in Indian per minute, up to a distance of 90m. Fully minute, with a carrying capacity of 9,200
airports, as more flights of the 747-8 loaded at 36 tonnes, it can accelerate litres of water, 1,200 litres of foam and 250
and A380 take place. An A380 can carry from 0-80 kmph in under 30 seconds kg of powder extinguisher. Rosenbauer
close to 200 passengers on its upper and reach a top speed of 115 kmph. Key also certified a new Volvo engine which
deck (depending on configuration), to its outstanding performance is the meets Euro-5 emission norms last year
which is almost three stories high and modular design superstructure with low and the engine will be used across the
any mishap will pose challenges for safe overall centre of gravity and almost equal entire Panther series, from its 4x4 chassis
evacuation of the passengers. As per the weight distribution. Panther 6x6 and 8x8 up to the 8x8 chassis and all variations
Airports Authority of India (AAI), the ARFF vehicles can quickly access any part of with shortened or extended wheelbases
response time to the end of each runway, the airfield with their all-terrain ability and reduced width.
WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2014 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS 15