Aerial rescue and fire fighting is referred to by the acronym ARFF. The federal aviation authority has set requirements for airports to comply, including the need for them to have a specific number of rescue and fire fighting trucks. To guarantee a sufficient reaction in the event of an emergency at the airport, the minimum number of rescue and fire fighting equipment must be regulated. Depending on the aircraft at the airport, the ARFF index is established. In comparison to an airstrip with fewer passenger-carrying aircraft, a big airport with such aircraft would have a higher ARFF index.
Problem
Two main issues arising from this case:
(a) The ARFF trucks are costly with a minimum price of one million dollars per vehicle. However, the airport managers are responsible according to the Certified Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 139.315)
(b) With or without the incidences of accidents or crashes in airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains that all aviation centers and airports adhere to the ARFF index that they have put in place.
III. Significance of the problem
Airports are important transport sectors that earn the government a lot of revenue. Having a high passenger carriage capacity means an increase in income thus a high tax levied to the government. The federal regulations are, however, strict on the acquisition of the ARFFs (Kann & Draper, 2014). It is these federal laws that the airports operate under and therefore, if an airport is not able to purchase these fire fighting trucks then they fall below their designated index. As much as the federal regulations maintain safety at the airports, they should give the airports an alternative way of ensuring a reduced expenditure to keep the stability of these economy stakeholders.
IV. Alternative Action 1: The airport management should find an alternative way of acquiring these ARFFs rather than direct purchase.
Advantage: There would be a great reduction in the cost of alternative acquisition compared to the direct purchase
Disadvantage: Time to time payment would waste a lot of time in acquiring these fire fighter trucks. The FAA gives every airport management a given duration for the acquisition of this equipment, and if that is not met due to a long term purchase system, then they might run out of time.
V. Alternative Action 2: The airport management to reach out to other airports who have acquired the ARFFs for support in case of emergencies.
Advantage: Other important details about the airport day to day functions can be strengthened in the process of sharing ideas.
Disadvantage: It may be dangerous as distances may lead to extreme damages. In case of emergencies, moving these ARFFs from one site to another may take a lot of time leading to injuries.
VI. Recommendations
I would, therefore, recommend that the airport management reduces the cost of operation to maximize the profits. Adjustments in the shifting of flight activities that would realize benefits would also be advised.
References
Legal Information Institute. (2004). Cornel Law School. Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/139.315
Kann, D., & Draper, T. (2014). Plane down in the city: Operation Crash and Surge. Journal of business continuity & emergency planning, 7(3), 184-192.
Rose, R. J. (2016). What are the FAA Rules for Model Aircraft?. Browser Download This Paper.
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