HI THERE,
I worked at a factory for ten years, then 1 day 2 friends went to the local airport and brought back 5 application forms and gave one to me.
So with nothing to lose I filled it in, 2 weeks later I recieved a phone-call, asking if I could attend the airport for a formal interview, so I went as you do, one week later, letter in the post, can you attend medical/fitness test at the airport, yes I can, after the test on the table was my contract ready for me to sign, checked the start date, it was the sunday coming, this day was a wednesday. I was in shock, I had 2 days to finish my factory job and take the biggest step into the world of aviation. I am also a retained CM for the last 9 years so "fire is in my blood" with 15 yrs service.
The next thing I was at Teeside on the FF course, 6 weeks of the best training set I have ever seen. Have I ever looked back YES, after we came back, what happened the airport needed to upgrade to cat 3 by september 2003, so on this course which is run with 12+ there were only 5 of us from our airport, it was a excellent course, but with only 5 it was hard graft, in the middle of the summer.
We had 6-7 different intructors during the course, which was good because you could take some of they're knowledge and experience from them.
Its a shame now, the airport was a busy cat 3 set up, but a year on we had 18 fire crew that dropped to 6, then 2 boys had enough and finished, then the S.A.F.O. had a fallout with the manager, if thats what he was, he finished.
So currently there are 4 of us left with the help of our air ground operators (multi-tasking) friends, they sometimes help out.
So we operate a day to day cat 1 with 24hr notice for cat 2, if either I can make it/other the lads help out, so my list of duties is ever lasting, yes Low cat ff do everything, since my departing S.A.F.O. I was asked to be made up to wait for it "Airport Fire Officer" yes I did get a payrise.
I have tried to get into other airports but kept failing at the interview stage/ due to my living location this also let me down, due to the relocation set-up some airports have. i.e Robin Hood.
But I have thought twice of finishing the R.F.F.S. due to the licencee holder not shelling out, i.e firekit and R.F.F.S. vehicles, which are essentials.
I feel that the airport has got the potential of going commercial again with the backing of the licencee holder who also owns a commercial airline. airwales. This airport is not council run its private.
Oopps that slipped up, sorry I don't work at Cardiff yet, still working on getting in there.
I have taken the step into the world of aviation and I am enjoying my role as part of the team at Swansea.
Everyone as the saying goes "keep chipping" speak to you soon.