This evening, as part of a long standing training arrangement with City Airport Manchester (Formerly Barton Airport) and following on from a similar visit last week, another seven Bolton MRT Call Out list members were guests of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service, for a training session on light aircraft accident awareness (Post crash management)
Attending were Team Chairman Craig Lamb, Team Treasurer Martin Banks, Equipment Officer (Medical) Nigel Booth, Equipment Officer (Ropes and Stretchers) Nick Berry, Team members Neil Aspinall and David Crawford and Trainee Team member Michael Wakerley.
They were met by Airport RFFS member Steve Pilling, who gave our seven a thorough tour and briefing whilst visiting the aircraft hangers at the airport, closely examining the different types of light aircraft based at the airport, including flexiwings, three axis microlights, sports aircraft and light aircraft.
Again as per last weeks visit, aircraft construction was covered, including carbon fibre, aluminium and fabric fuselages, fuel types and cut off systems and aircraft door opening types.
Of particular mention, and of potentially specific danger, was much discussion, including examples in use on based aircraft at the airport, of Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) / Ballistically Deployed Emergency Parachute Systems. (Essentially a ballistically projected parachute recovery system for the whole aircraft in some types or a part of the airframe containing the persons on board on other types)
This second visit was well underway when the wail of the ‘Crash Siren’ atop the Airport Control Tower alerted the Duty Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service to an aircraft incident, which involved a Microlight which had ‘flipped’ during take off on the in use runway.
Our seven watched as the Airport Incident Plan swung in to action, with first the Duty Airport RFFS responding, followed by the arrival of two GMFRS Pump Appliances from GMFRS Eccles Fire Station, a Fire Officer, two GMP Police Cars, and an NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance.
Thankfully the two crew of the Microlight escaped without injury.
With the Duty Airport RFFS members now involved in dealing with this incident, our members visit was obviously cut short and they returned to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.
The team would like to thank Mark Knowles, Airfield Duty Manager, for agreeing to this informative and interesting second group visit this evening.
See also website ‘News’ report dated Tuesday 28th May 2013.
