Two more $4m specialised fire fighting vehicles coming

Two more airport crash tenders will be arriving next month for Fiji Airports, adding to the two which are already stationed at Nadi International Airport.

Airport crash tenders are specialised fire fighting vehicles designed to handle aircraft disasters.

The two that are already with Nadi’s Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS), are Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 models. They were brought in from Austria in December last year.

The cost of one of these machines is $2 million.

Fiji Airports general manager for air traffic management and airport operations, Amit Singh said the machine had the capacity to hold 12,000 litres of water and the ability to reach the end of the runway and discharge water within three minutes.

“This fire fighting machine can drive through fire. The wheels have protection while going through the plane,” Mr Singh said.

The Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 airport crash tender is a specialised fire fighting vehicles designed to handle aircraft disasters.

“It shoots at an aircraft 110 metres away. It is not a normal truck. It is custom built, and it is wide enough for a normal road. It is designed for aviation jet fuel and oxygen. It is designed to take away oxygen.

“It can travel 100 kilometres an hour, respond and fight the fire and navigate around with the full crew.

“Training has been conducted for the ARFFS Senior Fire Officers. Seventy officers from more that 10 countries attended the training with world renowned instructors from the UK, USA and Australia.

“ARFFS staff have their skills and training mapped under the Quale Fire programme.”

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