While we hope you never have to use it, a good understanding of crash response to aircraft incidents is key to successful mitigation. Here is a link to an FAA site dedicated to crash rescue response.
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 HAA operations
- 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 HAA operations
- 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, HAA 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/HAA 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.
