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INDUSTRY INSIDER May 2015 airportbusiness 17 When asked to revamp the airport's Fire Training Research Center (FTRC), McKinney tapped into this background to mix different teaching techniques in a progressive learning environment. McKinney, who began with the airport ARFF team in 1987, started tweaking ARFF training in 2003, when then-Fire Chief Alan Black, currently the Director of Public Safety, asked him to revitalize the center. As McKinney repaired, replaced and relocated the training program, he says he found himself thinking a lot about how people learn. "At the time I had three imaginative young children … and as I watched how they learned, and I talked to them, I realized there was a huge generation gap in learning," he explains. "My kids would always say, 'Dad it doesn't work like that now. You have to think of it this way. Let me show you how.' " McKinney says he eventually realized these generational differences would soon affect students coming to the center. "I realized that we really needed to upgrade, not just the nuts and bolts, but how we reach people," he says. The culmination of his efforts and innovative training philosophy came in 2013, when the airport unveiled a newly renovated, $29 million, 50-acre 8,000-square-foot Fire Training Research Center, which included classroom space, a control center, both propane and hydrocarbon fire burn pits and a full-size Airbus 380 (A380) mock-up trainer—the only one of its kind in the world with a focus on cargo and passenger training. The center employs six full-time instruc- tors and 18 adjunct instructors, who utilize a combination of research-oriented, multi-lingual curriculum, immersive digital activities and practical applications to arm students with the knowledge they need to fight aircraft fires and rescue passengers. "Firefighters entering the profession are learning in ways previous generations did not," says McKinney. "They are learning in the elec- tronic age with iPads, touchscreen computers and tablets. To ensure firefighters have the best opportunity to learn, we have developed a smart classroom environment that mirrors the style of training/education most people are familiar with." Airport Business recently spoke with McKinney to learn how DFW keeps its train- ing cutting edge and what it means to ARFF operations across the nation. WHY IS REGULAR TRAINING CRITICAL FOR ARFF TEAMS? Aircraft fires differ from structural fires in s e v e r a l w a y s . A i r c r a f t t e n d t o h a v e higher concentration of personnel than a structure, close proximity of jet fuel and the high heat generated by the fuel, and the potential for high impact damage can make access difficult. Due to the inherent safety of modern day aircraft flying, aircraft firefighters cannot afford to be complacent. Constant training and practice helps these crews respond to an emergency as quickly as possible to pro- vide the best avenue of escape for passengers ON THE NEED FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING … When you only have a white board, a projector and a PowerPoint, you're only hitting approximately 50 percent knowledge retention. ON TODAY'S GENERATION OF LEARNERS … Firefighters entering the profession … are learning in the electronic age with iPads, touchscreen computers and tablets. ON WHY ALL ARFF TEAMS NEED A380 TRAINING … Airports across the nation have to be ready in case one of these aircraft diverts to them. We had four diversion aircraft A380s at DFW before we got the first scheduled A380 flight. ON WHY DFW INCORPORATED RESEARCH INTO ITS TRAINING FACILITY … As things in the industry change, our tactics and strategies need to change with it, staying ahead of the curve. MEET MCKINNEY f Diggin' Digital. My kids introduced me to Vine. It tries to tell a story within 15 sec- onds. That to me speaks to the speed of learning. f Fire Safety at Home. When I went through fire school, we watched a video of a toaster catching fire and setting a house on fire. At home, whether it's the toaster or the cof- feemaker or whatever, I unplug it. My family will say, 'Hey, the toaster is not working.' And I'll say, 'That's because it's not plugged in.' f Working for the Weekend. I'm an audio engineer. I mix large concerts and things of that sort. I recently got to mix for India Arie. That was nice.