Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)

Operators of Part 139 airports must provide aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) services during air carrier operations that require a Part 139 certificate. The guidance and resources below address ARFF training, ARFF vehicles, and other aviation fire and rescue requirements. More on Part 139 >>

Part 139 Airports and Requirements

• Part 139 Airport Certification Status List (including ARFF Index) (MS Excel)
• Part 139 ARFF Requirements
  • § 139.315 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting: Index Determination
  • § 139.317 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting: Equipment and Agents
  • § 139.319 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting: Operational Requirements
  • More >>

ARFF and First Responder Training

• Ballistic Parachute System Familiarization (Module 4) (added 3/11/2010)
• First Responder Safety at a Small Aircraft or Helicopter Accident

ARFF-Related Advisory Circulars

View All Series 150 Advisory Circulars (ACs)

Number	Title
150/5200-12	First Responders’ Responsibility for Protecting Evidence at the Scene of an Aircraft Accident/Incident
150/5200-31	Airport Emergency Plan
150/5210-5	Painting, Marking, and Lighting of Vehicles Used on an Airport
150/5210-6	Aircraft Fire and Rescue Facilities and Extinguishing Agents
150/5210-7	Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Communications
150/5210-13	Airport Water Rescue Plans and Equipment
150/5210-14	Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Equipment, Tools and Clothing
150/5210-15	Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station Building Design
150/5210-17	Programs for Training of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Personnel
150/5210-19	Driver's Enhanced Vision System (DEVS)
150/5210-23	ARFF Vehicle and High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) Operation, Training and Qualifications
150/5220-4	Water Supply Systems for Aircraft Fire and Rescue Protection
150/5220-10	Guide Specification for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicles
150/5220-17	Design Standards for an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Training Facility
150/5230-4	Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling, and Dispensing on Airports

ARFF-Related CertAlerts

View the Complete List of Airport CertAlerts

Number	Title
12-01	Fuel Safety Training - Update (PDF) (revised 3/6/2012)
11-02	Identifying Mil-Spec Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) (PDF)
11-01	Fuel Safety Training - Update - Cancelled by 12-01
10-03	Extension of Airport Emergency Plan Submission Date to June 30, 2011 (PDF)
10-01	Interpretation of the Term 'Consecutive Calendar Months' as Used in Part 139, Certification of Airports (PDF) (revised 4/28/2010)
09-16	Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Product Recall (PDF)
09-14	IAFC Releases Two New Alternative Fuels Training Packages for First Responders (PDF)
09-12	Airport Planning for Pandemic flu including H1N1 (Swine Flu) Update (PDF) See also Airports Council International Pandemic Flu Guidelines (PDF)
09-08	Composites Training and Information (PDF)
09-07	Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Training Facilities - Update (PDF)
09-01	Notice to Users of Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) Air Mask Equipment (PDF)
08-08	Interpretation of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 407 Standard for Aircraft Fuel Servicing paragraph 4.3.6.7 (PDF)
08-07	Guidance on the High-Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) (PDF)
07-09	Class D Fire Fighting Agents – Update (PDF) Cancels Certalert 07-08.
06-08	NFPA 407/2007 Edition (PDF)
06-04	P-23 Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicle (PDF)
06-03	Embraer 170/190 (ERJ 170/190) ARFF Door Operation Notice (PDF)
06-02	Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Meeting MIL-F-24385 (PDF)
04-18	Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Training Facility Pool Size (Fixed and Mobile) (MS Word)
04-13	Rocket-Deployed Emergency Parachute Systems (PDF, 947 KB) Accident Scene Safety with Rocket-Deployed Emergency Parachute System (MS PowerPoint, 5.11 MB) First Responder Video (Cirrus Aircraft) Use the id "cirrus" and password "CAPS" to access video.
04-12	Dry Chemical Systems Inspection and Maintenance (MS Word)
04-06	Security Related Items in Airport Emergency Plan may be referenced in the Airport Operator's TSA Approved Airport Security Program (Options) (MS Word)
04-03	Part Time ARFF Coverage and Air Carriers Operating Outside Scheduled Arrival and Departure Times (MS Word)
03-08	Conductivity Test Meter (Probe) Causes Erroneous Reading (MS Word)
03-01	ARFF Foam Mixture Testing Methods (MS Word) Attachment 1: Evaluation of Conductivity Meters for Firefighting Foam, DOT/FAA/AR-02/115 (PDF) Attachment 2: Conductivity Meter Test Methods (MS Word)
02-04	Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Concentrations, Restrictions, and Other User Guidelines (MS Word, 2.05 MB)
01-02	ARFF Rollover Study (MS Word)
98-04	Aircraft Familiarization Charts (PDF)
98-03	ARFF Index (PDF)
98-02	Airports with Less than Full-time ARFF Coverage (PDF)
97-01	ARFF Rollovers (PDF)
96-02	High Reach ARFF Equipment (PDF)
96-01	Annual Live Fire Drill Training (PDF)
95-05	Closing and Opening the Airport After an Accident or Incident (PDF)
95-04	ARFF Off Airport Operations (PDF)
95-03	Halotron I (PDF)
95-01	Bloodborne Pathogens (PDF)
94-02	Delta Airlines Aircraft Familiarization Program (PDF)
94-01	NFPA Cautions that Some Protective Clothing May Have False Compliance Labels (PDF)
92-04	Update on the use of HALON 1211 for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Purposes (PDF)

All Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs)

View the Complete List of SAFOs

Number	Title
10017	Risks in Transporting Lithium Batteries in Cargo by Aircraft (PDF)
10016	Missing or Improper Seat Stops in Cessna Model (PDF)

Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies Resources

Visit the TRB Website

Number	Title
Conference Proceedings 47	Research on the Transmission of Disease in Airports and on Aircraft
Conference Proceedings 41	Interagency-Aviation Industry Collaboration on Planning for Pandemic Outbreaks
National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 525	Guidelines for Transportation Emergency Training Exercises

Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Reports

View the All ACRP Publications or find out more about the ACRP

Number	Title
Notice: ACRP is managed by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies and sponsored by the FAA. All links to ACRP Reports go to the ACRP website administered by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), which is not part of FAA.gov or any other Federal government website. After you leave FAA.gov, you are subject to the privacy and security policies of TRB and are no longer protected by Federal privacy laws.
Report 22	ACRP Report 22: Helping Airport and Air Carrier Employees Cope with Traumatic Events Webinar: Helping Airport and Air Carrier Employees Cope With Traumatic Events Webinar Summary: Helping Airport and Air Carrier Employees Cope With Traumatic Events (PDF)
Web Document 12	Risk Assessment of Proposed ARFF Standards
Web Document 7	How Proposed ARFF Standards Would Impact Airports
Report 12	An Airport Guide for Regional Emergency Planning for CBRNE Events and Costs
Report 5	Quarantine Facilities for Arriving Air Travelers: Identification of Planning Needs and Costs

Additional Resources

• FAA Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Research Program
• Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Vehicle Rollover Study On-Line Reporting System
• Airport Safety Reports