CASA yesterday launched community consultation on aerodrome rescue and firefighting services (ARFFS), proposing to make 24 changes to current rules and creating a separate regulation.
Following policy considerations from a technical working group (TWG), CASA says that it intends to create CASR Part 176, breaking out the ARFFS ruleset from CASR Part 139.
According to CASA, new regulations will cover establishing, functions and modernisation of ARFFS whilst removing some prescriptive standards.
CASA has stated that the intent of the changes is to align Australian practices with ICAO standards and practices (SARPS) and better define the roles, functions, responsibilities, requirements and locations of ARFFS in Australia.
"The proposed new ARFFS ruleset will be comprised of the CASR Part 176 regulation and Part 176 Manual of Standards (MOS)," CASA states, "and will apply to:
- existing and prospective ARFFS providers
- accredited ARFFS training providers
- aerodrome operators.
"The proposed changes also have relevance to State and Territory fire authorities due to clarification of ARFFS functions, providing greater clarity about the delineation of the ARFFS provider and State and Territory fire authorities’ roles."
CASR Part 139 Subpart H currently requires ARFFS to be established at any airport that has had passenger movements of 350,000 in a preceding year, or any airport that has an international passenger service regardless of movements.
Airservices Australia currently provides ARFFS at 27 airports, operating a fleet of 100 fire and rescue vehicles.
The proposed changes and consultation papers are on the CASA consultation hub website.