An airport firefighter also referred to an aviation firefighter normally fight fires in an aircraft and in buildings at the airport, provide technical advise for fire safety, provide rescue and first-aid services to aircraft passengers. He also assists in educating the airport users about firefighting and the proper safety measures. Basically, the work of airport firefighters involve:

Fighting fires using a range of equipment like monitors, foam sprayers and even hoses.

Evacuating people in life-threatening situations using high-performance mobile vehicles and watercraft.

Administering first aid.

Observing aircraft arrivals and departures

Participating in organized drills for rescue work and fire control

Protecting the environment in an emergency situation

Testing and maintaining fire vehicles, hoses and other essential equipment

Carrying out fire safety inspections and also inspect fire alarm units.

Helping operate Fire Control Centers at airports.

As an airport firefighter there is diversity in emergency situations that you face and every workday is basically different.

During training aviation firefighters usually use mock-up steel aircraft to re-enact fire scenarios. The mock up plane serves as a real aircraft complete with fuselage, an engine, undercarriage and also compartments, beads and seats. The firefighters also attend to domestic fire calls, serious medical calls and road traffic collisions reported within the confines of the airport. Using old vehicles, the drill tower also helps them practice casualty extraction.

Firefighters at the airport usually approach all emergency situations with the mental preparedness of being ready to accept that there always could be a devastating outcome. This comes as part of the job training and a successful operation is only feasible where the fire fighting crew deal with the problem at hand effectively.

Airport firefighter attends to all kinds of incidents that appears to be life-threatening at the airport or on the roads around it. From a crash landing to even a land slide, aviation firefighters undergo both theoretical and practical training, cleaning of vehicles and equipment, testing and inspections too. The crews have to be fit all times and the necessary facilities are provides to that effect.

In most instances, an airport firefighter does respond to emergency stress signal within a few minutes. Much tighter response times are usually set by the relevant Civil Aviation Authority to minimize casualty rates and prevent major catastrophe at the airport. The crew is also trained to asses the situation in front of them and act dynamically without the need for orders in the early stages of an incident. Shift work is sometimes compulsory but individual shift lengths may vary between 7-16 hours depending on the airport location.

To become an airport firefighter you first have to complete with success a range of both physiological and physical examination tests, an aptitude test, a comprehensive medical examination, an interview and also obtain good results in Mathematics and English. You must also posses a current Senior First Aid Certificate and a drivers license for the National Heavy Rigid Vehicle.

Generally, as an airport firefighter you have to be physically fit, able to work as part of a team, have good interpersonal and communication skills and also be able to work under a structured service environment. And you will only become a successful recruit once you have passed an extensive training program which you must have attended in aviation firefighting.