Manual of Standards Part 139H - Standards Applicable to the Provision of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services
6.1General
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Regulations 139.710, 139.755, 139.771, 139.772 and 139.800
Section 6.1: General
6.1.1 Standard: Response Time
6.1.1.1 Response time is defined as the time between the initial call to the ARFFS and the time when the first responding vehicle(s) is (are) in position at the aircraft or site of the incident or accident, and if required, produce foam at a rate of at least 50% of the discharge rate specified in the Table defined in Chapter 7 of this Manual.
6.1.1.2 All other vehicles required to deliver the amount of extinguishing agent detailed in Chapter 7, must be capable of arriving so as to provide continuous agent application at the required rate.
6.1.1.3 The operational directive of the ARFFS must be to achieve response times not exceeding three minutes to the end of each runway in optimum visibility and surface conditions.
(a) the operational objective of the ARFFS is to achieve a two minute response time to the end of each runway;
(b) the operational objective of the ARFFS is to achieve a response time not exceeding three minutes to any part of the movement area;
(c) response times for all vehicles must be documented for validation.
Note: Optimum visibility and surface conditions are defined as: day time, good visibility, no precipitation, with normal response route free of surface contamination; ie, water, ice or snow.
6.1.2 Staffing to Achieve Response Time
6.1.2.1 Staffing to achieve response times. Refer to Chapter 20 of this Manual.
6.1.3 Emergency Access Roads
6.1.3.1 Emergency access roads must be provided at aerodromes where terrain conditions permit their construction so as to minimise response times. Particular attention should be given to the provision of ready access to approach areas up to 1000 metres from the threshold, or at least within the aerodrome boundary.
6.1.3.2 Access roads and any associated bridges must be capable of supporting the heaviest ARFFS vehicle which may use them and must be constructed so as to be effective in all weather conditions.
6.1.3.3 Where an aerodrome is fenced, access to outside areas must be achieved by provision of emergency or frangible barriers; and
6.1.3.4 Emergency gates must be readily identifiable to the public to indicate their purpose.
6.1.4 Difficult Terrain
6.1.4.1 At aerodromes where a significant proportion of aircraft movements take place over water, swampy areas or other difficult terrain in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome and where conventional fire vehicles may not be capable of achieving effective response times the operational procedures and equipment must be availability to respond to accidents which may occur in these areas.
6.1.4.2 These facilities need not be located on the aerodrome if they can be made immediately available within a reasonable response time by off-aerodrome agencies as part of the Aerodrome Emergency Plan. In all cases the Aerodrome Emergency Plan must determine and specify in advance the response area for which it undertakes to provide a rescue service. Ref: Chapter 11 of this Manual and formal arrangements will be required and endorsed by CASA.
6.1.4.3 On-aerodrome facilities will be required to cover difficult environments within a distance of 1000 metres from the threshold of affected runways.
6.1.4.4 The objective of each operation must be to create conditions in which survival is possible and from which the total rescue operation can succeed. This concept anticipates that the initial, rapid response attendance may have to provide a preliminary level of assistance while waiting the arrival of a larger rescue force. The first stage response would have as its objective the removal of immediate hazards to survivors, their protection, including the first aid treatment of injuries, and their communications equipment to identify the location to which additional rescue forces must respond. The emphasis will be on rescue and may not require any fire fighting capacity in the first instant.