Airservices Australia graduated 24 new aviation rescue fire fighters from its Melbourne academy on April 9, adding to the 700 other fire fighters which operate under its Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) service around the country.
The 24 new recruits completed a 10 week training course at Airservices Learning Academy in Melbourne and the organisation’s fire training ground in Hobart. They received a theoretical and practical education in fighting aircraft and structural fires, aviation rescue techniques and dealing with the hazards of aviation fuels. Victorian recruit Anthony Wilkinson was awarded the Silver Axe as the most outstanding recruit of the course.
On average, the ARFF responds to 150 emergency calls each week across Australia’s 21 busiest regional, domestic and international airports. In the past two years Airservices fire fighters have saved more than 20 lives.
