A memorandum of understanding will see both fire services share training, planning, advice and personnel in relation to emergency situations involving aircrafts not only within the airfield at George Best Belfast City Airport but across Northern Ireland - the first agreement of its kind between an airport in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.
Seamus MacMahon, Senior Airport Fire Officer at Belfast City said:
“This agreement cements an already good existing relationship with NIFRS. Our expertise in aircraft emergencies has already been of benefit to NIFRS in dealing with incidents outside the airfield involving aircraft.
“We look forward to training, planning and working with NIFRS and sharing best practice in pursuit of continuing excellence in this field.”
NIFRS will also provide Fire Crews and Appliances to assist the airport’s fire service if an emergency was declared at the airport.
Chris Kerr, Area Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said:
“This agreement will enhance existing NIFRS arrangements for planning for and responding to incidents involving aircraft. We work closely with Airport Fire Services to test our joint response to an emergency incident on the airfield and this agreement will now further enhance our response to incidents involving aircraft outside of the airport. Effective multi- agency training will also make a significant contribution to public safety.”