Ministry of Civil Aviation Aerodrome Fire Service
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Civil Aviation Aerodrome Fire Service was a national airport
fire service which operated in British
airports run by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
When the Ministry of Civil Aviation was established in 1946, firefighting services at its airports were originally provided by individual units at each location, answering directly to the airport manager. The following year, after a number of incidents, it was decided that this was unworkable and Sir Aylmer Firebrace, Chief of the Fire Staff of the National Fire Service
, was asked to organise a national fire service for civil airports.
Unlike the local authority fire brigades, airport firemen belonged to the Transport and General Workers' Union
and not the Fire Brigades Union
.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
fire service which operated in British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
airports run by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
When the Ministry of Civil Aviation was established in 1946, firefighting services at its airports were originally provided by individual units at each location, answering directly to the airport manager. The following year, after a number of incidents, it was decided that this was unworkable and Sir Aylmer Firebrace, Chief of the Fire Staff of the National Fire Service
National Fire Service
The National Fire Service was the single fire service created in Great Britain in 1941 during the Second World War; a separate National Fire Service was created in 1942....
, was asked to organise a national fire service for civil airports.
Unlike the local authority fire brigades, airport firemen belonged to the Transport and General Workers' Union
Transport and General Workers' Union
The Transport and General Workers' Union, also known as the TGWU and the T&G, was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland - where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union - with 900,000 members...
and not the Fire Brigades Union
Fire Brigades Union
The Fire Brigades Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom for wholetime Firefighters , Retained Duty System and Emergency Control Room staff...
.
Ranks
Ranks used by the Aerodrome Fire Service were:- FiremanFirefighterFirefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
- Leading Fireman
- Section Leader
- Aerodrome Fire Officer II
- Aerodrome Fire Officer I
- Divisional Fire Service Officer
- Deputy Chief Fire Service Officer
- Chief Fire Service Officer