Today, airplanes are considered to be a relatively safe form of travel. However, there is still a significant number of incidents that can take place at the airport. All domestic and international airfields must be able to provide aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) services to ensure quick response to any airplane-related incidents occurring in or near the airstrip. This essay will discuss Orlando International Airport (MCO), its Fire Rescue Services, and how well it is equipped for various incidents and accidents.
MCO is one of the largest international airports in the country. It is located in Orange County, Florida, approximately six miles southeast of the city of Orlando (The Florida Department of Transportation, 2016). The identifier MCO refers to the air field’s original name, McCoy Air Force Base (The Florida Department of Transportation, 2016). Although the base is no longer operational, the identifier was assigned to the new airport. In addition, MCO is situated near several tourist attractions, including amusement parks and various resorts (The Florida Department of Transportation, 2016). Overall, the MCO’s location on the eastern seaboard and near popular tourist sites contribute to it being one of the country’s busiest airports both for domestic and international travel.
Every airport must be equipped for emergencies involving its aircraft and the rescue of its crew and passengers. According to Sky Vector (2020), the ARFF index for MCO is E, with ARFF certification I E S 05/1973. ARFF index E is assigned to airfields that facilitate airplanes of “at least 200 feet in length” (U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2012). The index also requires airports to employ at least three vehicles, one carrying an extinguishing agent and two holding the appropriate amount of water for foam production of 6,000 gallons (U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2012). There is no indication that the ARFF Index of MCO was dropped below the established requirements since its opening.
MCO airport facilitates several small and large aircraft for its domestic and international flights. According to the statistics collected at the end of 2019, it has 35 planes based in the field: 30 jet planes, three multi-engine airplanes, and two single-engine ones (Sky Vector, 2020). The largest airplane currently in use is the Boeing 747-400 (The Florida Department of Transportation, 2018). The airplane is over 231 feet in length, with a total wingspan of 213 feet (Boeing, 2010). Its dimensions are consistent with the ARFF index assigned to the MCO. According to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (2014), Boeing B747-8 Intercontinental (B747-8I) is considered the airport’s critical aircraft. Boeing B747-8I requires 8,800 feet of runway for landing, while it is expected to operate at 7,000 feet (Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, 2014). The insufficient runway length can lead to an incident on landing that will require the response of all available emergency units.
All incidents taking place in any airfield can be divided into three categories, depending on their severity. However, there were no alert II or III incidents at the MCO in the last six months. Nevertheless, the Orlando International Airport Fire Rescue (OIAFR) is well equipped for emergencies, with 16 emergency vehicles and 82 staff, with 75 combat positions (Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, 2019). The OIAFR employees are trained to respond to aircraft and medical emergencies, fires, fuel spills on the runway, and other accidents (Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, 2019). The airport is required to ensure that various extinguishing agents are available to respond to different types of fires. Thus, MCO must have a full stock of multiple forms, for example, Aqueous Film Forming Foams, carbon dioxide, class D extinguishers, dry chemicals, and wetting agents (The Florida Department of Transportation, n.d.). Although there have been no major incidents in the last six months, the near-term challenge for the ARFF personnel is responding to medical emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the long-term challenge is addressing the landing runway length requirements for critical aircraft.
I believe that the ARFF station at the Orlando International Airport is well-equipped, and the staff is prepared for a wide range of emergencies. Although this is my first experience at an ARFF station, I think the OIAFR is exemplary. Specifically, the layout of the building allows for quick reaction to emergencies, while its location ensures minimal response time. It is also stocked with all the required extinguishing agents, with all staff having extensive training on how to use them. Overall, my lasting impression is that organization and coordination play a pivotal role in emergency services.
In summary, Orlando International Airport, located in Orange County, Florida, is one of the largest airports both in the state and country. It has a large fleet of airplanes, including Boeing 747-400 and Boeing B747-8I, supporting its ARFF index E. The airfield’s ARFF station is equipped to respond to different types of incidents and has an adequate number of vehicles and employs combat personnel to address a wide range of emergencies. Although there is a long-term challenge that must be addressed to avoid incidents involving the MCO’s critical aircraft, it can be argued that the airport is safe and well-maintained.
References
Boeing. (2010). The right choice for the large airplane market. Web.
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. (2014). Master plan update: Orlando International Airport (MCO) (2011-2031) (Volume IV). Web.
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. (2019). ARFF. Orlando International Airport (MCO). Web.
Sky Vector. (2020). MCO – Orlando International Airport. Sky Vector: Aeronautical Charts. Web.
The Florida Department of Transportation. (2016). Airport profile: Orlando International Airport. Web.
The Florida Department of Transportation. (2018). Orlando International Airport. Web.
The Florida Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Aviation emergency response guidebook. Web.
U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2012). Code of Federal Regulations. Web.