An Cosantóir July/August 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie
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REPORT AND PhOTOS By SGT WAyNE FITzGERALD
O
n May 21st 2014, An Cosantóir visited the Air Corps Fire Training Facility in Baldonnel to observe
the Aviation Fire-Fighter Revalidation Course, which was taking place from May 19th to 23rd.
Four students were undergoing this rigorous training programme in order to be recertified as
aviation fire-fighters for a further four years.
The Fire Training Facility with state-of-the-art fire equipment, including a 'dead-
man's' safety control system, is purpose-built on an area away from all occupied
buildings on the aerodrome.
The facility is used to train aviation fire-fighters, with courses ranging from
basic to advanced, and including crash-rescue drills and life-saving techniques.
The revalidation course was conducted under the auspices and certification of
the International Fire Training Centre (IFTC) in the UK. Students were assessed in
a wide range of areas including hose management; working in heat, smoke, and
confined spaces; breathing apparatus (BA) procedures; and many more skills.
As well as practical assessments, each student had to pass an oral exam cover-
ing all areas of aviation fire-fighting.
All four students had started their fire-fighting careers by undergoing a five-
week course, which included a two-week breathing apparatus (BA) course. Having
completed the basic course, fire-fighters undergo daily training on-station and
then undergo the revalidation course every four years.
There will be a Basic Fire-Fighters Course conducted in Baldonnel later this year,
so anyone interested should keep a look out for a notification of the course in
Routine Orders.
