FireNet Community
AVIATION => Operational => Topic started by: ct_alex on July 05, 2010, 03:25:16 AM
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Dear all,
Do Fire department personnel carry out runway inspection in any of your airports? How do you make report to the ATC on completion of inspection? Does the inspection extend to all parts of Movement Area?
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Hi CT
I'm not an airport firefighter, but a friend of mine is, so I know a few things that they get up to on duty.
Im sure some of the more informed members here will be able to give you a more accurate response, but in the meantime.
At some of the smaller airfields / airports fire crews do undertake runway inspections. They will look for obvious hazards, such as obstructions, significant damage to the runway surface, they will also sometimes get involved with checking taxi and navigation lights and markers, may also be tasked to scare birds within the airport boundaries, gritting the runways in cold weather and snow clearance. Some firefighters will also be responsible for site maintenance.
They report back to ATC via radio and then normally sign an inspection schedule / log on return to station.
Not sure if fire crews do this at larger category / international airports, as generally larger airports will have specific technicians tasked with runway inspections, bird scaring, maintenance etc but from memory firefighters will normally assist with snow clearance.
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Often, it's air traffic's ground people. All trades who frequent the taxi ways and runways obviously have the obligation to report hazards such as FOD and other infringements they observe.
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we do a daily runway inspection before opening, and a circuit of the perimeter, crash gates, bird levels, work in progress etc.we also do one on request for ATC if we are in the night flying season. quite often we inspect before tower is open, so can only sign that lights are present and undamaged, not that they work!
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Gritting the runway is probably not a good idea as this could cause damage to propellers or fan blades.