The Aviation Fire Officer Reference

By: Eric J. Russell

The Aviation Fire Officer Reference by Eric J. Russell, a professor at Utah Valley University in the Department of Emergency Services, is a comprehensive resource tailored for current and aspiring Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) officers. Unlike traditional fire service leadership roles, the position of Aviation Fire Officer (AFO) demands a unique layer of knowledge, skills, and abilities—shaped by the distinct operational, safety, and regulatory requirements of aerospace environments.

This book explores the AFO’s critical role in managing aviation-specific hazards, incident planning, apparatus and equipment readiness, mutual aid coordination, and mass casualty response. It offers practical guidance aligned with standards from the FAA, NFPA, ICAO, and DoD, ensuring leaders are well-versed in the frameworks that govern both civilian and military aerodrome operations.

Whether you're preparing for advanced qualifications like the FESHE Aviation Fire Officer curriculum or the AAAE Airport Fire Officer designation, this reference supports your professional development with real-world insight, actionable strategies, and a clear path to becoming a highly effective aviation fire officer.

Key Features:

• Designed for ARFF officers operating at airports and military installations
• Goes beyond NFPA 1021 with aviation-specific knowledge and responsibilities
• Integrates FAA, NFPA, ICAO, and DoD standards for ARFF operations
• Supports certification paths including FESHE and AAAE designations

*****

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction to the Aviation Fire Officer Reference

• The Growth of Aviation—and the Inevitable Growth of ARFF
• ARFF’s Raison d’Etre
• Mandated Fire-Rescue
• The Aviation Fire Officer
• Developing an AFO Curriculum
• Purpose of This Book
• ARFF Qualifications and Standards
• The AFO-as-Teacher
• The AFO and the Authority Having Jurisdiction: Who’s Really in Charge?
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

2. Safety Practices and Guidelines

• The Agencies
• Industry-Specific Professional Organizations
• The AFO and a Safety Mind-set
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

3. Apparatus and Equipment

• ARFF Apparatus
• ARFF PPE
• Rescue Equipment
• Commonly Referenced Standards Governing ARFF Apparatus and Equipment
• The Vitalness of Simplicity
• Procurement
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

4. Aerospace Fire-Extinguishing Agents

• The History of Firefighting Foam
• AFFF
• Dry Chemical Agents
• Dry Powder
• Clean Agents
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

5. Strategies and Tactics

• Strategy
• Strategy and Strategic Planning
• Strategy and a Culture of Strategic Thinking
• Tactics
• Sun Tzu and the AFO
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

6. Airport Emergency Planning

• National Standard Governing AEPs
• International Standard Governing Airport Emergency Plans
• AEP Development
• Reflecting on the Defined Roles and Responsibilities in AEPs
• Risk Management
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

7. Awareness in the Face of Hazards

• Self-awareness
• Situational Awareness
• Awareness of Others
• The Influence of Awareness on Hazards
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

8. Aviation Mishap Databases and Large Language Models

• Background
• Use of Major Databases
• LLMs, ARFF, and the AFO
• LLMs and the Use of Aviation Mishap Databases
• LLMs and Building Case Studies
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

9. Accident Investigation

• The NTSB and the Investigation Process
• The Impact of the NTSB
• NTSB Advocacy and Engagement
• NTSB Reporting and Transparency
• NTSB International
• The Role of ARFF in Investigations
• The Military Investigation Process
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

10. Command and Control

• The Incident Command System
• Growth of the IMS in the United States
• NIMS
• Succession and Command and Control
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

11. Aviation-Related Mass Casualty Incidents

• The MCI
• Preplanning Posttraumatic Growth
• Impact of Posttraumatic Growth
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

12. Aviation Terrorism

• Terrorist Threats to the Aviation Industry
• History of Extremist Groups and Aviation Terrorism
• Aviation Terrorism and Its Evolution
• Antiterrorism and Counterterrorism Operations
• Counterterrorism Units
• The Relationship between ARFF and Antiterrorism
• Terrorist Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
• Terrorism-Specific ARFF Emergency Planning
• Incident Management and Coordination
• Postincident Recovery
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

13. Aviation Security

• 49 USC Chapter 449
• The Aviation and Transportation Security Act
• National Strategy for Aviation Security
• TSA
• The TSA-FAA Relationship
• Layered Security
• Threat Detection and Security Measures
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities

14. Airport Operations Systems

• Common Airport Operation Systems
• People-Movement-Function
• Summary
• Review Questions
• Short-Answer Reflection Questions
• Suggested Activities
• Appendix

A. Answers to Chapter Review Questions

B. Sample Lesson Plans for an Aviation Fire Officer Curriculum

Notes

Index

About the Author