Airport crash tender

Airport crash tender is a specialized type of fire engine designed for use in aircraft rescue and firefighting at aerodromes, airports, and military air bases.

Overview

Airport crash tenders are extremely powerful machines. They offer relatively good acceleration for their size and weight, are able to negotiate rough terrain outside the airport area, carry large capacities of water and fire fighting foam, are fitted with powerful high-capacity pumps and water/foam cannons, and are capable of delivering foam or water from a great distance.

Design and Features

The design of an airport crash tender is specialized to meet the needs of modern airports, aerodromes, and military bases. They are usually built on a four-wheel drive chassis, have an ability to accelerate to 80 km/h in under 35 seconds, and carry up to 18,000 liters of water and 2,400 liters of foam. They are also equipped with a high-capacity pump capable of delivering water or foam from a distance of up to 100 meters.

Operation

The operation of an airport crash tender is typically carried out by a team of two; a driver and a commander. The commander directs the driver and controls the firefighting equipment, such as the water cannon. The driver's primary role is to position the vehicle effectively at the scene of an aircraft incident.

Manufacturers

There are several manufacturers of airport crash tenders, including Rosenbauer, E-ONE, Oshkosh Corporation, and Magirus. Each manufacturer offers a range of vehicles with varying capacities and capabilities.

See Also

• Firefighting
• Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting
• Fire engine