First Responder Safety at a Small Aircraft or Helicopter Accident
The FAA Small Airplane Directorate has released a web based training presentation for first responders at a small aircraft or helicopter accident scene. This collection of material has grown into a very comprehensive yet concise collection of safety information. Much of the material may be of value to anyone that may be likely to come across an accident scene, such as airport/aviation work force, law enforcement, search and rescue organizations, accident investigators, recovery workers, etc.
The FAA First Responders Training can be found at the following site:
http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/first_responders/
Submit Roster
Station Officers: This is a mandatory class, to be completed by August 1, 2010. Once training has been viewed by your shift, complete the station roster (PDF). Send the roster via inter-office mail (MS 1102F) to Office Coordinator Brandi Miller at the Fire Rescue Academy.
Overview
The following provides a brief overview of the training. The training material is split into 5 Modules:
Module 1: Systems and Material Hazards
-Recommended for firefighters and EMS
-Primary module that identifies hazards unique to aircraft accidents
-Including: Scene Approach/Access, PPE, Combustion concerns, Bio-hazards, Material Hazards, Aircraft system hazards, Aircraft safety system (ballistic parachute systems and airbags)
Module 2: Aircraft Type Familiarization and Mission Specific Hazards
-Recommended for firefighters and EMS
-Outlines aircraft variations in service and hazards associated with certain aircraft usage
-Including: General types of small aircraft and helicopters, commercial roles of small aircraft/helicopters and associated hazards
Module 3: Command and Recovery
-Recommended for firefighters, EMS and law enforcement for aircraft accident protocol development.
-Recognizes operational protocol for managing an accident scene and requirements related to the investigation of the accident
-Including: Initial management of the scene, considerations for pending investigation and investigating authority(NTSB, FAA), scene preservation, security, witness/media considerations
Module 4 Ballistic Parachute System Familiarization
-Recommended for firefighters and recovery personnel.
-Provides information that will detail the installation, operation and techniques used by manufacturers to disable a Ballistic Parachute System so that the first responder will have a better understanding if tasked by the manufacturer to disable the system
-Including: system identification/overview/operation, considerations for manufacturer disabling
Module 5 Systems and Material Hazards for Rescuers
-Recommended for police, airport and the aviation community or others that may be tasked with initial rescue.
-Provides material from Module 1, however recognizes that PPE may not be equivalent to firefighter/EMS SCBA and does not address extrication.
-Including: Scene Approach/Access, PPE, Combustion concerns, Bio-hazards, Material Hazards, Aircraft system hazards, Aircraft safety system (ballistic parachute systems and airbags)
Note: Future Module 6 (still in work) will address safely working around a running helicopter, including landing zone selection, hazard areas around a running helicopter, and landing zone protocol.
Revised March 29, 2010
