Case analysis on On-Airport ARFF Response Time

In the event of a land emergency

Passengers and crew are to be evacuated, responded to, and saved by aviation rescue and firefighting (ARRF). In other words, the ARFF personnel’s responsibility is to safeguard the lives of the crew and the passengers. The ARRF personnel are expected to respond swiftly and supply the necessary fire gear in three minutes due to the potential severity of an aviation disaster. The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated that ARFF be inspected annually in accordance with FAR, part 139. According to federal rule 14CFR Part 139.315, the ARFF facilities in an airport should be prepared and on call. Further, federal regulation 14CPR Part 139.15 has an index that determines the number of ARRF vehicles required and the amount of extinguishing agents that can be used for a specific length of an aircraft if an emergency happens (Richardson 1).

Problem

The problem is that Airport manager A does not see the need of him budgeting or purchasing a truck since there has never been an accident.

Significance of the Problem

Airports are run by federal regulations which require them to have aircraft rescue and firefighting services. An accident can happen anytime, thus an airport should be armed with all equipment needed. The vehicles used in ARFF are quite expensive and hence, they should be well budgeted in order to avoid unnecessary expenses. In the case of the two managers, Manager B states that although they have never experienced any major crash, it is important to respect what the FAA requires and to maintain ARFF capability. This means that Manager B agrees to have all the firefighting equipment and vehicles ready regardless of whether an emergency happens (Richardson 75).

Alternative Action 1. The Airport Managers can research before purchasing the trucks.

Advantages: Researching before buying a truck enables the manager to decide on the type of truck they need. They will decide in advance on the type of index they need. For example, they will tell on time if they need index B which consists of two vehicles or index C, which consists of three vehicles. Additionally, they will have an average figure of maintenance cost required for a certain truck or vehicle. Further, they will have a list of suppliers they can choose from depending on who offers a fair price (G.P.O 527).

Disadvantages: Research is time-consuming as it may take between 3- 5 months. The managers may need the trucks immediately due to pressure from the FAA hence, research may not be conducted. Another problem is that the research may make the managers spoilt for choice leaving them more confused on the type of truck they need.

Alternative Action 2. The managers can try to translate the performance expectations into specifications.

Advantages: The managers will have the trucks designed according to their specifications. This might be costly but it will be worth it since the trucks may be designed to be long-lasting and the maintenance cost will be small (U.S Department of Transportation 73).

Disadvantages: The managers may spend more in purchasing the designed truck. Secondly, the truck may be designed in a manner that the FAA is not comfortable with (Richardson 76).

Recommendation

Since it is a requirement for airports to have ARFF services, I would advise the two managers to purchase long-lasting vehicles which are designed according to their specification. Additionally, before purchasing any truck or vehicle, it is important for the managers to carry out research in order to determine which supplier is offering a fair price. Furthermore, the managers should have a maintenance budget at hand. In order to avoid huge maintenance cost, the managers should consider having preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance involves tire alignment, oil changes, filter and engine checks. By engaging in preventative maintenance, the managers can end up saving more money in the long run. Although ARFF vehicles might be expensive, it is important to purchase them since an accident can happen anytime (Richardson 83).

Works cited

U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5220-10E, Guide specification for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting(ARRR) Vehicles, Jan 6, 2011.

Government Publishing Office (G.P.O).Federal Aviation Administration, DOT CFR. 14 CFR Part 139.315, Jan 1, 2011.

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-31C, Airport Emergency Plan, June 19, 2009.

Richardson, Kay Lesontha. “Airport rescue and firefighting standards: Do the benefits justify the costs?” (2003).