Airport Business - June-July 2020 - 21

COVER STORY
bodies, as well as the needs of their
unique layouts and considerations.
"Airports set minimum firefighting
capability needs based off ICAO, FAA,
and NFPA requirements. The different
requirements allow for airports to
customize their f leet based on their
runway layouts to optimize the response
at their airport," said Bermingham. "In
the 21st century, airports are also mini
cities that include a wide variety of
other fire response scenarios including
parking garages, terminal EMS and
fire response, fuel farms and aircraft
refueling operations to name a few. Each
airport assess their ARFF response and
additional airport fire response needs to
design a fleet to meet their unique needs."
Oshkosh's sales team partners with
their engineering staff to work out any
unique requirements and ensure they can
design in features for specific airports.
Kann points out, though, and even
more important factor is going to be an
airport's funding source.

"The funding stream is going to be
one of the most important factors in
determining how they want to move
forward shopping for their ARFF
equipment," Kann said.
There are three main ways an airport
can fund it's ARFF equipment, through
Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
grants from the FAA, the use of Passenger
Facility Charge (PFC) money and then
self-funding.
AIP and PFC funding each have
to follow the FAA advisory circular
150/5220-10E.
"That circular actually has a template
depending on the class ARFF unit that
the airport is purchasing, class four, class
five, or class one, two, and three. The
template allows airportsto pick and
choose certain items on the vehicle that
are approved for FAA funding," Kann
explained. "The advisory circular,
basically outlines what is allowed and
what's not allowed to be purchased with
FAA funding."

That circular provides a template
of specs, based on the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) 414
document, which airports can then
choose from. For airports using AIP
funding, that is all they can use with
one exception. The AIP Handbook
was updated in 2014 and provides some
additional details not consistent with the
advisory circular that went into effect
back in 2011. The AIP Handbook lists
several details for ARFF vehicles that
should also be followed when using
AIP funding. The good news is some of
these items are above the minimum items
allowed in the advisory circular. This
can be a bit confusing because they are
a little contradictory of each other, such
as allowing and not allowing radios to be
included in the base vehicle specification.
The FAA is in the process of updating the
advisory circular to the 150/5220-10F
version. It is important for airports and
ARFF departments to provide feedback
during the open comment period that

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Airport Business - June-July 2020

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