Ground_Support_SeptemberP2019 - 14

INDUSTRY EXPERT
COLUMN:

GSE

Mitigate the Risk of Equipment Fires
Automatic fire suppression systems are designed to protect GSE and keep
ground crews safe.

Photo courtesy of Firetrace International

By Steve Mulhall

ith more than 20 fire incidents with
equipment damage on the ramp
going viral in the last three years, the
aviation industry has taken notice.
During the International Air Transport Association (IATA) committee meeting in March, fires
on the ramp were an item of discussion. Firetrace
International was invited to the meeting to explain
automatic fire suppression systems on ground
support equipment (GSE) and how they benefit
owners and operators.
Following the meeting, IATA decided to add
language to the next publication of the Airport
Handling Manual (AHM) on fire detection and
suppression. The language intends to reduce the
number and impact of fire incidents and will
become effective on Jan. 1, 2020.
AHM 913, 19.3 - Due to potential safety risk to
personnel and aircraft damage, it is advisable to consider the use of either a smoke and/or fire detection
system or an on-board
automatic fire suppression system coupled with
automated shutdown on
all equipment that interfaces with aircraft as
well as other equipment.

14 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE

The Impact of
a Fire

With over 100,000
arrivals daily around
the globe, a fire involving interfacing GSE has
an immediate impact
on airport operations.
Anytime there is a fire
on the ramp, ground
crews, flight crews
and passengers can be
put in danger. A fire
can leave critical GSE
inoperable, airplanes
out of service or in a
worst-case scenario, a

SEPTEMBER 2019

total hull loss. These scenarios can cause a ripple
effect of delays and flight cancellations.
When a fire occurs in a piece of GSE, the
operator has two choices - try to extinguish the
fire or contact aircraft rescue and firefighting
(ARFF) and wait until they can respond. If the
operator chooses to attempt to extinguish the fire,
they must first remember to perform shutdowns
before exiting the equipment, grab the portable
fire extinguisher, pull the pin, aim and release
the fire extinguishing agent at the source of the
fire. Gaining access to the source of the fire often
involves opening or accessing compartments that
would expose the operator to severe injury, therefore it should only be done by trained firefighters.
If the operator contacts ARFF and stands by, in
the time it takes for first responders to get on-site,
the fire could grow and cause severe damage to
equipment or aircraft.

What are the Fire Risks?

According to a purchasing study conducted in 2019
by Ground Support Worldwide, nearly 50 percent of
those surveyed said the average age of equipment
in their GSE fleet was 10 years or older. The age of
equipment and the demanding nature of their heavy
use are contributing factors which make equipment
more vulnerable to fire. Preventative maintenance
programs address many issues from continual wear,
but fire can remain a risk.
Equipment and vehicles with fuel-based engines
can run for extended periods, which creates an
extremely hot environment. While in operation,
the lines for fuel, hydraulics and deicing liquid,
if necessary, keep the equipment running. These
fluids are extremely flammable and if a line or
fitting fails, the liquid can spray out onto the hot
equipment causing a flash fire.
The electrical system presents multiple fire hazards. Batteries can be at risk of a fire if not properly secured and protected from the possibility of
a short circuit. A battery can become a fire risk due
to leaking or venting of hydrogen gas. In a confined
space, like the battery compartment, hydrogen can
hit a lower flammability limit of 4 percent quite
quickly. Electrical wiring and connections can also

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