New airport fire engines

SUMBURGH Airport is to have its fire fighting operation strengthened as part of a £7 million upgrade by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd across the region.

HIAL announced on Wednesday that it would be replacing its fleet of emergency fire fighting vehicles at its 11 airports with 20 new state of the art appliances over the next five years.

ITURRI Group has been commissioned to build the new appliances, which will be a mixture of 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles with a life expectancy of 20 years.

The oldest vehicles currently in the HIASL fleet are 24 years old. HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said: “We are delighted to be working with ITURRI Group, a world leader in this technology, and look forward to progressing this ambitious project.”

HIAL chief fire officer George Farquhar added: “This investment will ensure that our fire service is even better equipped to deal with emergency situations, wherever they arise.”

The Civil Aviation Authority recently approved a bid by HIAL to become the first airport operator in the UK to provide in house, on site training for its fire fighters.

Until now all HIAL fire personnel have attended centralised, external residential courses. In house training should be more relevant and cost less in the long term.