"North Dakota airport struggling to find firefighter during plane arrivals"

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Jamestown airport struggling to find firefighter during plane arrivals
The Associated Press


JAMESTOWN, N.D. - Fire officials here are trying to figure out how to make
sure a firefighter is on duty during flight arrivals and departures at the
airport twice a day.

Jamestown Fire Chief Bert Gray told the Airport Authority this week that he
has just two paid firefighters and six volunteers qualified to fight fires
involving commercial airplanes, and he said the airline schedule is putting
pressure on his staff.

Former airport manager Richard King was a volunteer firefighter, which
helped the airport meet Federal Aviation Administration regulations for
having a firefighter on duty, in a fire truck, for a period that ran from
before the arrival of a commercial aircraft until 15 minutes after the
aircraft left.

Another problem is a change in the Mesaba Airlines schedule, which moved the
morning departure and afternoon arrival flights closer together, giving
firefighters only about a half-hour break between flights, Gray said.

Jennifer Eckman is scheduled to take over as Jamestown's new airport manager
Feb. 21, and airport authority members plan to discuss the issue with her.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************