JAL plane Airbus A-350 & Coast Guard Plane Crash at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in Japan

 

A Japan Airlines aircraft carrying more than 300 passengers caught fire while landing at a Tokyo airport Tuesday January 2, 2024 after a possible midair collision with a Coast Guard aircraft, according to local media.

The plane was seen with flames bursting through its windows on the runway at Haneda International Airport shortly before 6 p.m. local time.

All 379 passengers on the flight were evacuated from the burning aircraft following the crash.

The JAL plane was an Airbus A-350 that had flown from Shin Chitose airport, near the city of Sapporo, to Haneda, the transport minister said.

The Coast Guard aircraft was en route to Niigata Airport to deliver aid for the deadly earthquake across Japan before the collision, military officials said.

Five of six Coast Guardsmen who were aboard the aircraft during the crash were unaccounted for, local broadcasts said.

Coast Guard spokesperson Yoshinori Yanagishima said its plane was MA-722, a Bombardier Dash-8.

Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan closed while the collision is under investigation by aviation safety investigators and police, but that they are doing their best to reopen the airport Wednesday January 3, 2024 or even sooner.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

Air Canada Boeing 777-300 Fire Damaged at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Montreal Airport

 

A vehicle caught fire while it was underneath an airplane, Air Canada Boeing 777-300, at around 3:25 p.m. Sunday afternoon July 9, 2023. There were no reported injuries, according to authorities, who said the fire was under control in under half an hour.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

Small Single-Engine Plane Crashed Into Chicago House - 11.18.14

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say a small plane has crashed into a home on the city’s southwest side.

Police spokesman Ron Gaines says the single-engine plane crashed into the house around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday.



Gaines says the occupants of the home were not injured but he did not know about the condition of the person or people aboard the plane.

Fire officials told local news outlets they were still searching for the plane’s pilot.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Corey told the Chicago Sun-Times the small cargo plane, an Aero Commander 50, had just departed from Midway International Airport on its way to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling when the pilot reported engine problems and tried to return to Midway. The plane crashed about a quarter-mile from its departing runway.





There was one pilot on board the plane. Firefighters have not been able to locate the pilot.

The plane crashed through the roof of the house and into the living room through to the basement.

There was no fire or explosion after the plane crashed.

Firefighters have not been able to enter most of the home because the building is unsafe.



(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

Brazilian Avianca Airlines Passenger Jet Makes Emergency Landing. . .

Faced with malfunctioning front landing gear, a pilot in Brazil safely landed a passenger jet on its rear wheels.

The emergency landing happened Friday, March 28, 2014, after the Avianca Airlines jet, carrying 49 passengers and crew, departed Petrolina, a northeastern Brazilian town, headed for Brasilia, Reuters reports.

None of the 49 passengers and crew of five on the Fokker 100 jet were injured when the plane landed on its rear wheels before lowering the nose onto the runway, the Brazilian Air Force said. Airport fire crews foamed the plane to prevent fire.

The pilot calmly declared an emergency and circled the Brazilian capital to shed fuel and lower the weight of the aircraft, according to a recording of his conversation with the control tower played on Globo News television channel.

"The plane suffered a hydraulic problem and the front landing gear did not open, so the pilot did a belly landing," an Air Force spokesman said.

Avianca Brazil, which has grown rapidly in the Brazilian market by opening regional routes, is owned by the Synergy Group controlled by Brazilian airline entrepreneur German Efromovich.

Efromovich also owns Colombian airline Avianca, which has joined Taca of El Salvador to form conglomerate AviancaTaca, one of Latin America's leading carriers.

The emergency landing closed one of Brasilia's two runways, delaying flights into Brazil's fourth largest airport.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Nose Gear Tire Blows, Takeoff Aborted At Philadelphia International Airport - 03.13.2014

PHILADELPHIA (CBS News) - A US Airways plane blew a tire as it was taking off from Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday evening and the nose gear collapsed as the plane made an emergency landing, the airline said.

The 149 passengers and five crew members aboard Flight 1702 were evacuated via emergency chutes, an airline spokeswoman and the Federal Aviation Administration said. 

Two minor injuries were reported but no one was seriously hurt. . .

Read more of the story here http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nose-gear-collapses-when-us-airways-plane-aborts-takeoff-at-philadelphia/



(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.) 

USAF Aircraft Plane Crashed Near Sheppard Air Force Base Runway, T-38 Talon Pilots Eject Over Wichita Falls, Texas

A T-38 Talon plane crash in Texas caused an instructor pilot and a student to receive minor injuries when they were ejected from there aircraft early Friday morning. 

Two pilots suffered minor injuries after ejecting from their jet aircraft, a T-38 Talon trainer, moments before it crashed in Wichita Falls Friday morning, Air Force officials say.

The aircraft went down near Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, approximately 6:48 a.m., near Pecanway Drive and Horton Lane in Wichita County, after a bird reportedly struck it. Instructor pilot Major Christopher Thompson and student pilot German 1st Lt. Julius Dressbach were both ejected safely.

An excellent job was conducted by the Sheppard AFB FES firefighters after the crash of a T-38 about a mile from the USAF air base. Outstanding skill in positioning the USAF Striker Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles into very tight quarters--a single lane dirt road with one way in/out. Lots of congestion with fire vehicles, sheriff's cars, ambulance, and the news vehicles. One pilot landed in a dry lake bed and the other student pilot landed in a heavily forested area and took some time to find. It's reported that it took 5 hours to find a ejection seat. A local Deputy sheriff broke a leg falling from a fence at the crash site.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise at 6:48 a.m.

"All of a sudden you hear a big loud noise, it sounded like a blow torch and then just a big loud bang, so we flew out of bed, threw shoes on went outside and you just see a big mushroom cloud everywhere," Melissa Baker stated.

This isn’t the first time a T-38 Talon, which is used as part of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, has crashed near Sheppard. In 2009, an instructor and a student were killed after their aircraft crash-landed.

An investigation into the crash is underway, Air Force officials said Friday, and more information is expected to be released at a later time.



(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 Crashed at San Francisco International Airport 07.06.2013

 

Published Saturday, July 6, 2013 - 6:54 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul, South Korea, crashed while landing at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, critically injuring at least 10 people and forcing passengers to jump down the emergency inflatable slides to safety as flames tore through the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Flight 214 crashed while landing at 11:36 a.m. PDT. A video clip posted to YouTube showed smoke coming from a jet on the tarmac. Passengers could be seen jumping down the emergency slides.

Television footage showed the top of the fuselage was burned away and the entire tail was gone. One engine appeared to have broken away. Pieces of the tail were strewn about the runway. Emergency responders could be seen walking inside the burned-out wreckage.

It wasn't immediately clear what happened to the plane as it was landing, but some eyewitnesses said the aircraft seemed to lose control and that the tail may have hit the ground.

Stephanie Turner saw the plane going down and the rescue slides deploy, but returned to her hotel room before seeing any passengers get off the jet, she told ABC News. Turner said when she first saw the flight she noticed right away that the angle of its approach seemed strange.

"I mean we were sure that we had just seen a lot of people die. It was awful," she said. "And it looked like the plane had completely broken apart. There were flames and smoke just billowing."

Kate Belding was out jogging just before 11:30 a.m. on a path the water from the airport when she noticed the plane approaching the runway in a way that "just didn't look like it was coming in quite right."

"Then all of a sudden I saw what looked like a cloud of dirt puffing up and then there was a big bang and it kind of looked like the plane maybe bounced (as it neared the ground)," she said. "I couldn't really tell what happened, but you saw the wings going up and (in) a weird angle."

"Not like it was cartwheeling," she said, but rather as though the wings were almost swaying from side to side.

Doug Yakel, a spokesman for the airport, said he did not yet know how many passengers were aboard the flight. "We also don't have any information at this time to the status of those passengers," he said at a brief news conference.

San Francisco General Hospital spokeswoman Rachael Kagan said the adult patients range in age from 20 to their 40s. It was not immediately clear the ages of the children.

San Francisco-area broadcasters KNTV, KCBS and KTVU have reported that there were fatalities in Saturday's crash, but The Associated Press contacted police, fire and coroner's officials and was unable to confirm any deaths.

A call to the airline seeking comment wasn't immediately returned.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators to San Francisco to probe the crash. NTSB spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said Saturday that NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman would head the team.

Boeing said it was preparing to provide technical assistance to the NTSB.

Numerous flights headed to San Francisco were diverted to other airports. A United Airlines flight bound for San Francisco was sent to Los Angeles airport, and passengers were told the San Francisco airport would be closed for at least three hours Saturday afternoon.

Asiana is a South Korean airline, second in size to national carrier Korean Air. It has recently tried to expand its presence in the United States, and joined the Star Alliance, which is anchored in the U.S. by United Airlines.

The 777-200 is a long-range plane from Boeing. The twin-engine aircraft is one of the world's most popular long-distance planes, often used for flights of 12 hours or more, from one continent to another. The airline's website says its 777s can carry between 246 to 300 passengers.

The flight was 10 hours and 23 minutes, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. The aircraft is configured to seat 295 passengers, it said.

The Boeing 777 is a smaller, wide-body jet that can travel long distances without refueling and is typically used for long flights over water.

The most notable accident involving a 777 occurred on Jan. 17, 2008 at Heathrow Airport in London. British Airways Flight 28 landed hard about 1,000 feet short of the runway and slid onto the start of the runway. The impact broke the 777-200's landing gear. There were 47 injuries, but no fatalities.

An investigation revealed ice pellets that had formed in the fuel were clogging the fuel-oil heat exchanger, blocking fuel from reaching the plane's engines. The Rolls-Royce Trent 800 series engines that were used on the plane were then redesigned.

Bill Waldock, an expert on aviation accident investigation, said he was reminded of the Heathrow accident as he watched video of Saturday's crash. "Of course, there is no indication directly that's what happened here," he said. "That's what the investigation is going to have to find out."

The Asiana 777 "was right at the landing phase and for whatever reason the landing went wrong," said Waldock, director of the Embry-Riddle University accident investigation laboratory in Prescott, Ariz. "For whatever reason, they appeared to go low on approach and then the airplane pitched up suddenly to an extreme attitude, which could have been the pilots trying to keep it out of the ground."

The last time a large U.S. airline lost a plane in a fatal crash was an American Airlines Airbus A300 taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in 2001.

Smaller airlines have had crashes since then. The last fatal U.S. crash was a Continental Express flight operated by Colgan Air, which crashed into a house near Buffalo, N.Y. on Feb. 12, 2009. The crash killed all 49 people on board and one man in a house.

Flying remains one of the safest forms of transportation: There are about two deaths worldwide for every 100 million passengers on commercial flights, according to an Associated Press analysis of government accident data.

Just a decade ago, passengers were 10 times as likely to die when flying on an American plane. The risk of death was even greater during the start of the jet age, with 1,696 people dying - 133 out of every 100 million passengers - from 1962 to 1971. The figures exclude acts of terrorism.

Asia remains one of the fastest-growing regions for aviation in the world. Even with slowing economies in Japan and China, airlines there saw 3.7 percent more passengers than a year ago, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Finding enough experienced pilots to meet a growing number of flights is becoming a problem. A 2012 report by aircraft manufacturer Boeing said the industry would need 460,000 new commercial airline pilots in the next two decades - with 185,000 of them needed in Asia alone.

"The Asia-Pacific region continues to present the largest projected growth in pilot demand," the report said.

---

(
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/2-killed-40-badly-hurt-in-SFO-plane-crash-4650259.php#photo-4885065

Photo: An Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 is seen on the runway at San Francisco International Airport after crash-landing. (Josh Edelson / AFP - Getty Images via NBC News) More photos:http://nbcnews.to/15nmM7O



The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

McConnell AFB KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Kyrgyzstan

Spokane, North Idaho News


An American military refueling plane carrying three crew members crashed Friday in the rugged mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the Central Asian nation where the U.S. operates an air base key to the war in Afghanistan.

The plane was a KC-135 from McConnell Air Force Base's 22nd Air Refueling Wing in  Wichita, Kansas. Reports from  the U.S. Air Force stated the three member crew was from Fairchild Air Force Base located in  Spokane, Washington.

The plane crashed at 2:55 p.m. near Chaldovar, a village 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of the U.S. Transit Center at Manas base outside the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Pieces of the plane, including its tail, were scattered across in a grassy field bordered by mountains; the air was infused with the heavy stench of fuel.

The plane was on a refueling mission for Afghanistan war operations at the time of the crash.

The front section of the aircraft has not yet been found, Kyrgyz Emergencies Minister Kubatbek Boronov told The Associated Press. He said searchers also have not found the flight recorders from the plane, which was badly burned in the crash.

The search for the crew will resume Saturday morning and the crash site will remain under guard, Boronov said.





(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Bagram Airfield Crash Boeing 747-400 in Afghanistan 04.29.2013

    

Shocking video shows the fiery crash Monday of a civilian cargo plane at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, just north of the Afghanistan capital of Kabul.

A civilian cargo aircraft crashed at Bagram Air Field near the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, killing all seven people aboard. The plane came down shortly after take-off and crashed within the boundaries of the US-run airbase, a NATO spokesperson at the base said.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the crash, but the coalition dismissed the claim as "false" in a statement to AP. The cause of the crash is being investigated by emergency crews, but no sign of insurgent activity in the area was spotted at the time, the statement added.  

One army spokesperson said the crash occurred due to low altitude after takeoff. The plane, run by Florida-based National Airlines, a subsidiary of National Air Cargo, was reportedly carrying vehicles and other cargo and was bound for Dubai.  

The crash is thought to be as a result of a shifting load in the cargo plane which may have caused the plane to stall.

National Airlines President Glen Joerger went on to offer the following:  “This is a devastating loss for our family and we’ll work diligently with authorities to find the cause. Most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with our crew members and their families."  

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a team to assist the Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation and Commercial Aviation in the investigation of a cargo plane crash at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.  

NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator Tim LeBaron will be the U.S. accredited representative. He will lead a team of three additional investigators from the NTSB as well as representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and The Boeing Company.  

The private cargo plane, a Boeing 747-400 operated by National Air Cargo, crashed just after takeoff from the U.S.-operated air base at 11:20 a.m. local time Monday. All seven crewmembers onboard were killed and the airplane destroyed. The seven crew members were all American citizens. The accident site is within the perimeter of Bagram Air Base.

The international cargo flight was destined for Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  

The Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation and Commercial Aviation is leading the investigation and will be the sole source of information regarding the investigation.




(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Bali Plane Crash - All 108 People On Board Survive

Terrified passengers were forced to swim to safety on Saturday, after a brand-new  Boeing 737 carrying more than 100 people to the resort island of Bali missed the runway at Bali's Denpasar Airport, Indonesian and crashed into the sea.





The Lion Air passenger jet airliner missed the runway altogether as it came in to land in good weather conditions at around 3.45pm local time (0745 GMT), on Saturday, April 13, 2013, a transport ministry official is reported as stating.

Officials confirmed all 108 people on board survived the crash, no fatalities. About 45 were treated for injuries.

"The aircraft was in landing position when suddenly I saw it getting closer to the sea, and finally it hit the water," said Dewi, an Indonesian woman who sustained head wounds in the crash. "All of the passengers were screaming in panic, afraid they would drown. I left behind my belongings and went to an emergency door. I got out of the plane and swam before rescuers jumped in to help me."

An air crash investigation is now under way. 

Accident investigators have yet to establish the cause of Saturday's incident. 

"It probably failed to reach the runway and fell into the sea," said Lion Air spokesman Edward Sirat. Harry Bakti Gumay, director-general of aviation at Indonesia's transport ministry, said the plane overshot the runway and fell into the sea from a height of about 50m.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Russian Passenger Plane Crashes: Four Killed & Four Injured 12.29.2012

The Tupolev-204 is a twin-engine medium-range jet with a capacity of 210 passengers.

The Russian Red Wings Airlines flight was arriving to Vnukovo International Airport from the Czech Republic when it crashed through a fence, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

It is thought the plane was on its second attempt at landing when the crash happened, at around 4.35pm local time (12.35GMT).

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A Russian airliner split into pieces after it slid off the runway and crashed onto a highway outside Moscow on Saturday, killing at least four of the 8 crew members and with no passenger on board. The Tupolev-204 aircraft broke into pieces and caught fire after crashing, leaving smoking chunks of fuselage on the icy road.





Exclusive footage of the Tu-204 crash above. The exclusive footage shows the initial accident of the Tu-204 at Vnukovo airport. Footage filmed by witness whose car caught the plane rolled out to Kiev highway.

The crash took place during high winds and a snowstorm, but the cause of the accident is not yet clear.

Preliminary reports say the jet rolled out from the runway into Kievskoye Highway, fell into pieces and caught fire. Russian investigators said preliminary findings pointed to pilot error as the cause of the crash. The plane's nose, including the cockpit area, appeared to have been sheared off.






Investigators are examining flight recorders and other evidence to try to determine the cause of a plane crash in Moscow that left four people dead.

Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia's main investigative agency, was quoted by Russian news agencies today as saying the data recorders were being examined, along with fuel samples.


In addition, he said flight documents for the plane have been taken from the airline for examination.

The four survivors were reported in critical or serious condition in Moscow hospitals.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

B-17 Flying Fortress & Goodyear Blimp Crashes: Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF)

Two aircraft crash incidents happened with one involving a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber crash on On Monday, June 13, 2011 and another incident involving a Goodyear Blimp that crashed on Sunday, June 12, 2011.

The Flying Fortress bomber crashed and burned in a cornfield southwest of Chicago, but seven crew members and volunteers walked away without serious injury.

The Goodyear Blimp burst into flames and plunged to the earth in a weekend crash in the vicinity of the Reichelsheim airport near Frankfurt Germany.

B-17 Flying Fortress Crash:

The B-17, christened the Liberty Belle, took off from the Aurora Municipal Airport at 9:30 a.m. and made an emergency crash landing in Oswego, 44 miles outside Chicago, after the pilot reported an engine fire, said Sugar Grove Fire Chief Marty Kunkle. The plane ploughed into a cornfield — but the seven people on board, including the two pilots, were able to escape without serious injury.

Goodyear Blimp Crash:

The pilot, Michael Nerandzic, 53, was killed but three passengers managed to jump to safety when the airship caught fire as it was coming in to land at the Reichelsheim aerodrome near Friedberg.

When the airship was just two metres from the floor, Mr Nerandzic told his passengers, all journalists, to jump to the ground while he tried to land safely.

But once the three had leapt clear, the sudden loss of weight caused the blimp to soar skywards and burst into flames before crashing to the earth in a chilling echo of the Hindenburg disaster.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This isa blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Aircraft, Twin-Engine Beech, Crashes Outside Opa-Locka Airport, Florida (May 2, 2011)

A twin-engine cargo Beech aircraft crashes after losing control into a house right after takeoff from the Opa-Locka Airport, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

In Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) there are many hazards at the crash site of an aircraft and the surrounding crash site area. On all the responses on ARFF incidents firefighters ensure that they are safe on approach into the scene and watch how the fire ground may develop as well as keeping eyes open to watch fellow fire fighter’s back. By doing so fire fighters are safe to do the job at hand.

The silver-colored plane was a 1957 Beechcraft, tail number N18R, crashed through trees, fencing, into two cars, and ending up on it's side, on the side of a house that suffered fire damage and smoke damage near Northwest 157th Street and 38th Way of Miami Gardens, Florida. The aircraft incident call came into Miami-Dade Fire Rescue at 8:10 a.m.. The pilot was reported being killed in the crash.

Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and doused the fierce flames with water and foam. The fire did spread to the side of the home, but firefighters managed to put out the fire before it engulfed the entire home. It took 30 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units to bring the flames under control.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NBTS) will be investigating the crash, and it may take NTSB investigators up to a year to figure out the actual cause of the aircraftcrash.

Video Of The Aircraft Incident:

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This isa blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

A.R.F.F. - "Hot Drills"

ARFF stands for Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting.

Had some very good Live Fire ARFF "Hot Drills" last week Friday, July 23, 2010 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, PA. It's the same fire fighting training I took part in doing last year, and actually one year ago today. I did a blog post on it last year and doing the same this year.

I had and took advantage of a training opportunity when it came up. Seemed there was an open spot on the team and I was able to attend this ARFF training with two great fire fighters Mike and Andy.

Venturing to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport for the live ARFF burns, the training we received was very good hands on training. Despite it being a rainy day. Actually, the rain keep it cooler and that was good when we were all suited up in PPE and SCBA because our bunker gear are very good in keeping the heat out but their very good at keeping heat inside the suit too on very hot & humid days.






















Our first training evolution we were on as the ARFF rescue team. The three of us went in with the attack hose line team, with an ARFF vehicle backing us up after initial fire knock down. The attack hose line teams cleared a "rescue path" so rescue team performed rescue & egress of victims. The rescue team laddered the wing, opened the access wing door, made entry and performed rescued in the passenger portion of the simulator, as well as perform shut down of aircraft on the flight deck.























There are two hose line teams, one is for interior attack that goes into the aircraft to fight fire bu also to provide protection for the rescue team and passengers still on board. The second attack line team outside the aircraft is providing protection of keeping any fire away from the established "rescue path," while the ARFF vehicle is providing even more backup protection to the overall fire ground scene.

Everyone doing the training had a chance taking a turn to do rescue, attack hose lines, and ARFF vehicle operations giving everyone a chance at each important position for a fire fighting operation of this size.

Here's a a YouTube taken of one of the ARFF "Hot Drills" that took place that gives a good overview how it all takes place...


















All and all it was some very important training and knowledge gained by all who attended. To learn and practice in changing a dangerous fire environment to one that allows fire rescue to be performed is a priceless fire fighting skill to learn. It's a skill you don't want to use but when called to do so, being prepared is the key for any fire fighter. This train succeeded in doing so.

I think and everyone who attended, would agree that the fire fighters of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, PA. did a fantastic job hosting such a training event this year. Like to send out a special thanks to lead fire fighter Jack for watching all our backs during the fire ground training operations. Also Jack, the tortellini salad, during lunch break, was great as always! : )


(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Train With Open Eyes. . .

This month has been a great month for training for me. We all have our required training to keep up-to-date each month, quarterly, and yearly. Had my yearly OSHA training at the local fire station and as many times that I’ve had this type training I never take it for granted that it’s a waste of time. OSHA training is especially important because the whole reason for it is to keep each one of us safe that work in emergency services.

My Dad, who was a Volunteer Fireman from way back, once told me there are no un-important jobs, just jobs that need to get done. I apply the saying to the fire training I received where even if I do know the particular subject I’m going to listen and absorb it because the instructor has taken the time to prepare to teach something of importance. Such was the case with the OSHA training, I walked at the end of the training have current update information to keep me safe.

Seems also, I’m always following up on that OSHA training by checking and viewing the information that’s available online. I found for starters the OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach-Trainer Presentations just for starters. Basic simple information to keep you safe and to go home at the end of the day.

The best training I had for the month though, plus really fun doing, was doing drivers/training with the Oshkosh Striker 1500 Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle. Three targets were setup at different location and different angle approaches on the flight line that you had to drive to. Once driving to and reaching/approaching near the target you had to position the turret, engage pump, press the trigger on joystick to discharge water, and move your turret to discharging upwards to 750 gpm of water you take aim and hit the target. Now I did tell you that your doing all this while driving the ARFF vehicle to each target area and when doing so trying to conserve water in the process. Almost sounds like your playing a video game. lol

It’s more than that though, to where your learning to be in control as well as being one with a very big fire fighting apparatus that can quickly put a lot of water on a lot of fire if needed. Your doing the training safely and having fun doing so. Most important though is your getting & having confidence in yourself and the equipment to be able to get the job done when called upon.

One of the items that are on an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles that are at large frame aircraft airports/airfields is a “Snozzle.” What’s a “Snozzle?” Well, here’s a very good YouTube video showing you a a “Snozzle” on a Oshkosh Striker 3000 ARFF vehicle . . .

Now that looks like a some fun training with a “Snozzle” and really shows the technical advances in Crash Rescue/Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting to date.

Have fun training, learn from the book training, do the hands-on training, and apply the training when needed to get the job done. Be open minded to new training ideas and information. But, the most important item above all is be safe. Scene safety from the get-go lets us get the job done and we all go home afterwards.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

ARFF TRAINING: First Responder Safety

Training and being prepared to do what is at hand is important for any critical job. Knowing before hand, or at least having the general knowledge of what is expected of you on any fire ground scene is equally important.

In the Fire Protection Service, if you’re a paid or a volunteer fire fighter, getting and having the required training is of core importance for each one of us. Passing along pertinent training information can only enhance one's ability to perform as best they can when called upon.

We all know as Fire Fighters, EMS and Police that we get “SAFETY” drilled into our heads during all our training classes. There should be no compromise to safety.

In Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) there are many hazards at the crash of an aircraft and the surrounding crash site. On all the responses on ARFF incidents I ensured that I’m safe on my approach into the scene and watch how the fire ground may develop as well as keeping my eyes open to watch my fellow fire fighter’s back. By doing so I knew the fire fighters I’m responding with will be watching my back.

As small aircraft and helicopters have become more complex, technology has provided systems that have enhanced operational safety. In the event of an accident, many of these systems have presented additional hazards to first responders or any potential rescuer at an aircraft accident scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in cooperation with General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), various manufacturers and first responder professional organizations, has developed training for safety at an aircraft accident scene with the following training modules:

(Click To View):

Module 1: Systems and Material Hazards

(27:06 minutes)

Module 2: Aircraft Type Familiarization and Mission Specific Hazards (7:00 minutes)

Module 3: Command and Recovery

(10:46 minutes)

Module 4: Ballistic Parachute System Familiarization

(21:38 minutes)

Module 5: Systems and Material Hazards for Rescuers

(27:20 minutes)

The primary purpose and goal at any ARFF emergency is to save lives, just like for any Fire Fighting or EMS situation or response. ARFF emergencies have very unique and specialize situations that could entail a combination of a house fire, motor vehicle fire, haz-mat, and medical emergency at one aircraft crash site. Safety is and always will be paramount on any emergency response.

ARFF fire fighters are trained to establish what is called a rescue path to the aircraft once at a crash site, and prepared to battle large volumes of acrid smoke, rapid heat build up, fight fire, lots of fire depending on the amount of fuel is being carried on the aircraft, and perform rescue. The ARFF fire fighter receives training includes structural firefighting tactics, aircraft familiarization, confined-space training, aircraft rescue, vehicle familiarization and aircraft egress.

I feel the above FAA’s training modules are a great training resource for those emergency responders that may be called upon from local community fire departments, medical squads, and law enforcement agencies. Incorporating these FAA Training Modules into a fire department’s or other agency’s training program can only increase the First Responders awareness of the many dangerous hazards that could be present at a aircraft crash site.

Lets Be Safe Out There!

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)