The main project objective was to improve professional skills of airport firefighters using digitalized approach for reaching the newest ecological standards imposed by the EU Directive regarding the use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds, which will need to be replaced with eco-friendly non-fluorine foam agents. Due to their specifics, using new foam agents increases the need for practical training of firefighters since the new agents are more complex. As the same level of operational preparedness can be achieved with partly digitalized processes using the simulator, we wanted to test such approach, which can reduce the quantity of live practical foam training, and consequently contribute to diminishing negative environmental effects, while still providing high level of training for the airport firefighters. We also wanted to develop new operational and training procedures that would be in line with the EU directive.
To comply with the EASA – European Union Aviation Safety Agency and ICAO – International Civil Aviation Association regulations, operational firefighting on all EU airports must comply with special equipment and operational procedures. This requires specific knowledge and training of staff to provide for quick and appropriate response in case of fire emergency. In view of the newest ecological standards imposed by the EU Directive EU/2020/784, all European airports will have to adapt to the new eco-friendly non-fluorine extinguishing foam agents, by the year 2025. This environmental request changes operational procedures, which also require adequate staff training. Quality firefighting training is based on realistic – close to reality – scenarios with the use of real fire extinguishing agents. This requires intensive use of fuel and foam as most important extinguishing agents, which is cost intensive and havs significant negative impact to the environment. Such circumstances force in particular smaller airports to look for more economic solutions that will still allow to maintain high standards of safety and environmental compliance at the same time.