Kidde Fire Trainers delivers hot fire training simulator to Schiphol Intl Airport
by Louis Orotelli
The worlds most advanced aircraft accident fire simulator (fire trainer) has been recently completed at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam by KiddeFT to provide state-of-the-art training for airport fire crews.
Kidde has delivered a full-size 
mock-up of a 747, which is able to provide realistic training opportunities and experience for Airport Fire Crews. The detailed interior and exterior of the 747 Simulator can create an impressive 26 different fire scenarios including a high tail engine fire; broken wing and engine fires, LPG fuel spill. The simulator is fitted with a high engine to represent an MD-11. This simulator can successfully recreate any situation that Airport fire fighters may encounter.
Fuel Spill Fires
Fuel spill fire areas are located either side of the aircraft fuselage and cover an impressive 864m and are capable of reaching a height of 10 metres! The fuel spill area is drive able, allowing fire fighters to position vehicles correctly, thereby experiencing the full realism of an emergency situation.
Control room
Kiddes control room monitors each exercise, from galley oven fire to large-scale engine fire. The Control Room uses customized PC software to give instructors complete control over training exercises.
Benefits to Schiphol a spokesman for Schiphol Airport explained the benefits of the rig are:
1. Standardisation: all fire crews tackled incidents properly before we had the rig but in their own way; now techniques are harmonised through discussion amongst the teams - we have for example developed exercise duties and great progress is being made.
2. Efficiencies: because we previously had to spend a lot of time in preparation we can now spend a lot more of our time in actual training; previously it could have been as much as 2 to 3 months between exercises. Debriefing is so much more effective and is helping to develop future professionalism.
3. Records: these help us understand previous experience and plan further development.
4. Morale: we actually enjoy training on this rig; good positive feedback helps build morale and confidence!
5. ICC (Incident Command and Control): Exercise design helps us arrange incidents with other incident response partners and this develops overall ICC skills.
6. Environmental: Kiddes design is a considerable improvement as previously Kerosene was set alight all over the fire ground surface.
Kidde Fire Trainers specialises in designing and manufacturing hot (live) fire training simulators for a broad range of training: Aircraft, Structural, Mobile an Modular, BA (SCBA) Training, Military and Special Forces, Outdoor-Industrial Petrochemical, Maritime, and Portable. KiddeFTs simulators enable clients to meet increasing regulatory and legislative requirements and are used on many different levels, helping to train professional emergency personnel through to employees within industry and commerce.
KiddeFT recognised the need for realistic and practical safety training at airports. Its internationally patented technology meets the demand for fire fighting in the most real and challenging of situations. Virtually any aircraft crisis including all aspects of Incident, Command and Control can be created simply and safely at the touch of a button.
Kiddes Civil Aircraft Simulators are designed to suit any size or category of airport. All fire simulators operate by combining propane and water, so allowing our customers to comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Custom built hot fire training systems supplied by KiddeFT are now in place at major world airports including in New York, Chicago, London, Gatwick, Stanstead, Berlin, Hong Kong and Nagasaki.
Kidde Fire Trainers Limited (formerly IFTE Ltd.) has been accepted as a member of British Airport Group (BAG).
BAG is the leading representative body for UK companies involved in the airport development sector. BAGs membership currently consists of over 200 UK companies of all sizes whose products or services are required in the strategic planning and design, financing, construction, equipping, securing, management and operation of airports.