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 >>

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Oct. 9, 2026: Airport sponsors planning to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) within controlled airspace in support of airport emergency exercises (e.g., 139.325(h)) must apply for airspace access from the FAA. Airport sponsors must submit a request for airspace access with sufficient lead time to ensure adequate processing before the scheduled sUAS operation.
- Part 107: Apply for an Airspace Authorization through FAADroneZone for controlled airspace, which includes details on the processing timeline.
- Part 91: Apply for a Certificate of Authorization (COA) via CAPS regardless of the airspace class, where Airport Sponsors can inquiry on the processing timeline.
Aug. 6, 2026: CertAlert 26:03: Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and Synthetic Fluorine Free Foam (F3) Testing at Certificated Part 139 airports (14 CFR 139.319, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting: Operational Requirements)
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Fluorine-Free Foam (F3) Transition for Aircraft Firefighting

ARFF Guidance

Advisory Circulars
Part 139 CertAlerts
FAA Technical Center Reports
All Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs)
Airport Cooperative Research Program Reports
Transportation Research Board Resources

ARFF-Related Advisory Circulars
Number	Title
150/5200-12	First Responders’ Responsibility for Protecting Evidence at the Scene of an Aircraft Accident/Incident
150/5200-18	Airport Safety Self-Inspection
150/5200-31	Airport Emergency Plan
150/5210-5	Painting, Marking, and Lighting of Vehicles Used on an Airport
150/5210-6	Aircraft Fire 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 HRET Hand Signals Quick Reference
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
150/5220-26	Airport Ground Vehicle Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) Out Squitter Equipment
150/5230-4	Aircraft Fuel Storage, Handling, and Dispensing on Airports

View All Series 150 Advisory Circulars (ACs)

ARFF-Related CertAlerts
Number	Title
26-03	Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and Synthetic Fluorine Free Foam (F3) Testing at Certificated Part 139 airports (14 CFR 139.319, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting: Operational Requirements) (added 8/6/2026)
24-11	Required Output Based Testing After Completion of Fluorine Free Foam (F3) Transition
24-09	Airport Emergency Plan, Sabotage, Hijack Incidents, and Other Unlawful Interference with Operations and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting: Operational Requirements
24-07	Fluorine Free Foam (F3) Training Video
24-05	Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Memorandum on Rinsing Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Vehicles Transitioning from Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) to Fluorine-Free Foam (F3) - includes Department of Defense Memorandum: Guidance for the Change Out from Aqueous Film Forming Foam in Mobile Firefighting Systems
24-01	Part 139 Requirements for Issuing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) When the Airport Operator Has No Operative Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Equipment Available on the Airport
23-07	Availability of Fluorine Free Foam (F3) on the Navy’s Qualified Products List (QPL)
23-05	Release of Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5210-23A, ARFF Vehicle and High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) Operation, Training and Qualifications, and Addendum
23-04	Jet Fuel Contamination with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
23-01	New Military Specification for Performance-Based Standards for Fluorine-Free Aircraft Fire Fighting Foam (added 1/12/2023)
21-07	NOTAM examples for Airport Operations/Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Frequency Monitoring During Air Traffic Contingency Operations (PDF) (updated 12/20/2021) Note: Updated Purpose statement to clarify that NOTAM examples should be used when an air traffic facility has an unplanned and immediate closure during, not outside of, normal hours of operation.
21-05	Part 139 Extinguishing Agent Requirements (added 10/4/2021)
21-04	Updated Guidance for Airport Emergency Plans (AEP) under 14 CFR Part 139.325(b)(7) (PDF) (added 9/22/2021)
12-05	FAA Safety Inspections of Joint Use Airport (JUA) Facilities Using Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Determining ARFF Compliance with Part 139 Requirements DoD SOP Attachment 1: Civil Airport ARFF Operations Checklist (MS Excel) DoD SOP Attachment 2: DoD ARFF Vehicle Report (MS Excel) DoD SOP Attachment 3: DoD ARFF Training Summary (MS Excel)
98-02	Airports with Less than Full-time ARFF Coverage (PDF)

View the Complete List of Airport CertAlerts

FAA Technical Center Reports
Number	Title
DOT/FAA/TC-23/79	Evaluation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Aircraft Accident and Incident Scene Documentation
DOT/FAA/TC-TN23/73	Evaluation of Effects from Mixing Fluorine-Free Foam Concentrates
DOT/FAA/TC-TN23/60	Fluorine-Free Foam Fire Tests Using Various Foam Delivery Configurations
DOT/FAA/TC-22/29	Evaluation of UASs for Live Monitoring to Enhance Situational Awareness During an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Response
DOT/FAA/TC-22/23	Fluorine-Free Foam Testing
DOT/FAA/TC-19/27	Full-Scale Evaluation of Novec™ 1230
DOT/FAA/TC-19/26	Evaluation of Input-Based Foam Proportioner Testing Systems
DOT/FAA/TC-17/27	Thermal Imaging for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Applications
DOT/FAA/TC-14/22	Impact of Alternative Fuels present in Airports on Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Response
DOT/FAA/TC-13/30	Full-Scale Evaluation of ARFF Tactics for Cargo Fires on Freighter Aircraft
DOT/FAA/TC-TN12/34	Test and Evaluation of Rear-Wheel Steering for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles--Part 2

View More FAA Airport Safety Research Reports

All Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs)
Number	Title
10017	Risks in Transporting Lithium Batteries in Cargo by Aircraft (PDF)
10016	Missing or Improper Seat Stops in Cessna Model (PDF)

View the Complete List of SAFOs

Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Reports
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.
Synthesis 73	ACRP Synthesis 73: Emergency Communications Planning for Airports
Synthesis 72	ACRP Synthesis 72: Tabletop and Full-Scale Emergency Exercises for General Aviation, Non-Hub, and Small Hub Airports
Synthesis 63	ACRP Synthesis 63: Overview of Airport Fueling Operations
Synthesis 60	ACRP Synthesis 60: Airport Emergency Post-Event Recovery Practices
Report 112	ACRP Report 112: Airport Terminal Incident Response Planning
Report 103	ACRP Report 103: Guidebook for Integrating NIMS for Personnel and Resources at Airports
Synthesis 50	ACRP Synthesis 50: Effective Cooperation Among Airports and Local and Regional Emergency Management Agencies for Disaster Preparedness and Response
Report 95	ACRP Report 95: Integrating Community Emergency Response Teams (A-CERTs) at Airports
Report 94	ACRP Report 94: Integrating Web-Based Emergency Management Collaboration Software into Airport Operations: A Primer
Report 91	ACRP Report 91: Infectious Disease Mitigation in Airports and on Aircraft
Synthesis 45	ACRP Synthesis 45: Model Mutual Aid Agreements by Airports
Synthesis 41	ACRP Synthesis 41: Conducting Aeronautical Special Events at Airports
Report 73	ACRP Report 73: Airport-to-Airport Mutual Aid Programs
Synthesis 32	ACRP Synthesis 32: Managing Aerial Firefighting Activities on Airports
Report 22	ACRP Report 22: Helping Airport and Air Carrier Employees Cope with Traumatic Events
Web Document 12	ACRP Web Document 12: Risk Assessment of Proposed ARFF Standards
Web Document 7	ACRP Web Document 7: How Proposed ARFF Standards Would Impact Airports
Report 12	ACRP Report 12: An Airport Guide for Regional Emergency Planning for CBRNE Events and Costs
Report 5	ACRP Report 5: Quarantine Facilities for Arriving Air Travelers: Identification of Planning Needs and Costs

View All ACRP Publications or find out more about the ACRP

Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies Resources
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

Visit the TRB Website

Part 139 Airports and Requirements

ARFF and First Responder Training

Additional Resources

Contact Us

FAA Office of Airports
Jim Price
ARFF Specialist
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Ave. SW
Airport Safety and Standards, AAS-300, Room 618
Washington, DC 20591
Fax (202) 493-1416
FAA Technical Center
Jeremy Casey
ARFF Research Program Manager
ANG-E621, Bldg 296
Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405
Airport Technology Research & Development Branch

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Last updated: Friday, October 9, 2026

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