Product category:
Machine Safety Components
News Release from: Birmingham International Airport
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 29 July 2005
Birmingham Airport installs accident
simulator
Birmingham International Airport (BIA) has purchased a new state-of-the-art aircraft simulator to provide realistic aircraft accident scenarios to enhance fire fighting training.
Birmingham International Airport (BIA) has purchased a new state-of-the-art aircraft simulator to provide realistic aircraft accident scenarios to enhance fire fighting training Over the past two years, BIA has invested over £1million in improving its fire fighting and training facilities and is now the first UK regional airport to boast a simulator of its size, configuration and capability
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 24 May 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The fire training rig, developed by Burton-upon-Trent based company, Simulation, is designed to replicate emergency scenarios for the largest commercial aircraft such as a Boeing 747 fuselage, and features a twin deck, cargo bay and passenger compartments.
All fixtures are made of steel and include seating and overhead cabin baggage bins.
The total length of the simulator is 25 metres and the entire structure weighs 150 tonnes.
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Will Heynes, Birmingham International Airport's operations director, says: "We are keen to provide the very best training facilities for our firefighters.
"Over the last few years, a number of factors, including health and safety legislation, increasing aircraft sizes, Government regulation and experience, have made it essential to re-evaluate our training facilities and, as a result, we have invested heavily in new equipment.
"Airports are required to provide realistic training for their fire fighters to reflect, as accurately as possible, those situations that could occur in an aircraft accident.
"We are happy that our facilities will demonstrate these scenarios, and ensure that the skills our 68 strong team of qualified fire fighters remains at or above the standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority".
The new facility allows fire fighters to raise internal temperatures to 40C and safety systems have been installed to allow a fully managed and controlled operation.
Fast smoke delivery systems are built into the facility with the option for rapid extraction if required in emergency situations.
Temperature monitoring is achieved by internal sensors linked to a central fire control panel.
Steve Fahey, managing director of Simulation, says: "We are delighted to have provided this unique, multi-purpose fire training facility to Birmingham International Airport.
"The successful working relationship between ourselves and the airport fire service has enabled us to design and construct this unique and invaluable facility".
Other purchases recently made by the airport company include a revolutionary fire tender called Snozzle, which has an articulated boom that can be raised or lowered to aim directly at the source of fire, making it more effective for aviation fire safety.
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