Southeast Airports Disaster Operations Group

Team Mission:

During a man-made or natural disaster to an airport facility, it is the goal of the ARFF Coordination Team to provide aircraft rescue and firefighting coverage to the affected airport. This is accomplished through coordinating efforts of non-affected airports that are willing to provide these services.  The coordination of personnel and/or equipment to the airport is essential to maintain continuity of operations in accordance with FAR 139.

Team Specialties:

• Rescue and firefighting personnel are equipped with NFPA Compliant protective clothing and equipment needed to perform their duties.
• Rescue and firefighting personnel are properly trained to perform their duties. Such personnel must be trained prior to initial performance of rescue and firefighting duties and receive recurrent instruction every 12 consecutive calendar months.
  • Airport familiarization, including airport signs, marking, and lighting.
  • Aircraft familiarization.
  • Rescue and firefighting personnel safety.
  • Emergency communications systems on the airport, including fire alarms.
  • Use of the fire hoses, nozzles, turrets, and other appliances required for compliance with this part.
  • Application of the types of extinguishing agents required for compliance with this part.
  • Emergency aircraft evacuation assistance.
  • Firefighting operations.
  • Adapting and using structural rescue and firefighting equipment for aircraft rescue and firefighting.
  • Aircraft cargo hazards, including hazardous materials/dangerous goods incidents.
  • Familiarization with firefighters’ duties under the airport emergency plan.
• Rescue and firefighting personnel must have participated in at least one live-fire drill prior to initial performance of rescue and firefighting duties and every 12 consecutive calendar months thereafter.
• At least one individual, who has been trained and is current in basic emergency medical services, is available during air carrier operations. This individual must be trained prior to initial performance of emergency medical services.
• Sufficient rescue and firefighting personnel are available during all air carrier operations to operate the vehicles, meet the response times, and meet the minimum agent discharge rates as required by this part and the airports Index.
• Teams must be self-sufficient.