The ARFF service in one paragraph
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) crews are firefighters trained and equipped for aviation emergencies: aircraft fires, crashes, fuel spills and hazardous-materials incidents on or near the aerodrome. ICAO Annex 14 requires every aerodrome to provide rescue and firefighting services matched to the size of the aircraft it serves. The principal objective is to save lives: to create and hold conditions in which occupants can escape, and to rescue those who cannot.
Why speed is everything: the ARFF response time
An aircraft fuel fire can make the fuselage untenable within minutes, so ICAO measures ARFF performance by response time: the time from the initial call to the first responding vehicle being in position to apply foam at a rate of at least 50% of the discharge rate required for the category. Annex 14 sets this at not more than three minutes to any point of each operational runway, in optimum visibility and surface conditions.
Aerodrome categories for rescue and firefighting
The level of protection depends on the aerodrome’s category, set by the largest aeroplanes normally using it. Find the category from the aeroplane’s overall length; if its fuselage is wider than the maximum for that category, use the next category up. The table also shows the minimum extinguishing agents for each category (foam meeting performance level A).
| Category | Aeroplane overall length | Max fuselage width | Water (L) | Discharge rate (L/min) | Complementary agent (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to but not including 9 m | 2 m | 350 | 350 | 45 |
| 2 | 9 m – under 12 m | 2 m | 1,000 | 800 | 90 |
| 3 | 12 m – under 18 m | 3 m | 1,800 | 1,300 | 135 |
| 4 | 18 m – under 24 m | 4 m | 3,600 | 2,600 | 135 |
| 5 | 24 m – under 28 m | 4 m | 8,100 | 4,500 | 180 |
| 6 | 28 m – under 39 m | 5 m | 11,800 | 6,000 | 225 |
| 7 | 39 m – under 49 m | 5 m | 18,200 | 7,900 | 225 |
| 8 | 49 m – under 61 m | 7 m | 27,300 | 10,800 | 450 |
| 9 | 61 m – under 76 m | 7 m | 36,400 | 13,500 | 450 |
| 10 | 76 m and over | 8 m | 48,200 | 16,600 | 450 |
Source: ICAO Annex 14, Volume I, Chapter 9 (Tables 9-1 and 9-2). Always check the current amendment; quantities differ for foam performance levels B and C.
Examples
| Aeroplane | Length | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 | 37.6 m | 6 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 39.5 m | 7 |
| Airbus A321 | 44.5 m | 7 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 62.8 m | 9 |
| Airbus A350-900 | 66.8 m | 9 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 73.9 m | 9 |
| Airbus A380-800 | 72.7 m | 10* |
* The A380 falls in category 9 by length, but its fuselage is wider than 7 m, so it is category 10. Dimensions are rounded.
Extinguishing agents
ARFF vehicles carry a principal agent — foam made from water and foam concentrate, which smothers and cools burning fuel — and a complementary agent, usually dry chemical powder, for running-fuel, engine and three-dimensional fires. ICAO recommends a minimum number of ARFF vehicles by category: one for categories 1–5, two for categories 6–7 and three for categories 8–10.
What ARFF crews do at an aircraft accident
- Protect the occupants — create and hold escape paths and support evacuation.
- Attack the fire threatening the fuselage before it penetrates the cabin.
- Cool and protect the structure to prevent re-ignition.
- Rescue occupants who cannot self-evacuate, then hand casualties to medical services.
- Secure the scene under the Airport Emergency Plan.
Training and competence
ARFF personnel must be trained and proficient before duty and keep their skills current, including live-fire training, aircraft familiarisation, rescue, first aid and radio communication with air traffic control. In Qatar, QCAR 006 (ADR.OPS.B.010) requires a training programme for rescue and firefighting personnel with proficiency checks at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Learn more in the free book Read the standards
ARFF frequently asked questions
What does ARFF stand for?
ARFF stands for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting. ICAO documents call the same service Rescue and Fire Fighting (RFF), and some regulators call it the Rescue and Firefighting Service (RFFS).
What is the ARFF response time?
ICAO Annex 14 sets an operational response time of not more than three minutes to any point of each operational runway, in optimum visibility and surface conditions. ICAO recommends a response time of two minutes as the objective.
How is an airport's ARFF category determined?
By the largest aeroplanes normally using the aerodrome: their overall length and fuselage width are matched against ICAO Annex 14 Table 9-1. If the fuselage is wider than the maximum for its length category, the aeroplane moves up one category.
How is ARFF different from structural firefighting?
ARFF crews must reach a burning aircraft within minutes, fight large fuel fires in the open with foam from moving vehicles, and keep escape routes open so passengers can evacuate. Speed, foam and evacuation support define the job.
Which standards govern ARFF?
Internationally, ICAO Annex 14 Volume I Chapter 9 sets the standards, with guidance in ICAO Doc 9137 Airport Services Manual Parts 1 and 7, and communication procedures in Annex 10. Each State turns these into national law; in Qatar this is QCAR 006 on Aerodromes.