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Issue link: http://airportbusiness.epubxp.com/i/516939
INDUSTRY INSIDER May 2015 airportbusiness 21 WHY IS IT NECESSARY FOR ARFF TEAMS TO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE A380? The A380 is the largest commercial passenger aircraft in the world. According to Airbus, it can carry up to 850 passengers. Your standard aircraft carries 100 to maybe 300 people. If there was an incident involving an A380, your mass casualty response could be up to eight times as large. And, because the aircraft is heavier, larger and can fly to any two points in the world, it has a larger fuel capacity. Airports across the nation have to be ready in case one of these aircraft diverts to them. We have incorporated the A380 into our training to give airports that do not receive scheduled service an opportunity to see the strategies and tactics that would be needed if this plane would divert to their airport due to weather, mechanical or medical emergency. We had four diversion aircraft A380s at DFW before we got the first scheduled A380 flight. WHAT TYPES OF RESEARCH IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE AT THE CENTER? We recently entered into an agreement with the FAA Technical Center, which researches all things aviation. We've worked with them on the HRET, which pierces an aircraft above the heads of the firefighters that are operating it inside the truck. The angles that they're piercing the aircraft are often skewed. We're working with them on some dynamics to allow that process to be more seamless and streamlined. We are in talks with a group from Norway to test their foam. In Europe, it's more environmentally friendly foam than what we currently use. We will be doing some comparison testing with them. We're also trying to bring on professors with Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University so that we can start working on additional research projects with them. The research component is really critical. As things in the industry change, our tactics and strategies need to change with it, staying ahead of the curve. For example, there is talk about new fuels in the aviation industry. We need to know what those fuels are and how our legacy agents like foam, and water react to those. Should we be looking at a different type of agent? Should we look at a different type of vehicle? Doing this research keeps us on the cutting edge of the industry. The AirportIQ suite is built to help you manage your airport, comply with regulations, and better utilize data to make informed decisions. For more information please contact: Mark Wilson, mwilson@GCRincorporated.com 225.241.3594 GCRincorporated.com GCR's U.S. airport clients: AirportIQ Safety & Operations Compliance System (ASOCS) AirportIQ Secure Credentials (ASC) AirportIQ Business Manager (ABM) www.aviationpros.com/10131883 Students learn in a smart classroom that allows instructors to present material in an enriching, engaging and stimulating way.