18.03.2008
One of the world’s best airports gets inspiration from CPH’s Fire and Rescue Department 

Delegations from all over the world visit Copenhagen Airport’s Fire and Rescue Department. Most recently, delegates from Singapore Changi Airport, one of the world’s best airports, visited the department on a study tour to learn about CPH’s unique fire-extinguishing technique and to see the new Panther fire engine in action.

The six delegates from Changi Airport were waiting anxiously when the Fire and Rescue people ignited the mock-up which can simulate various fires in aircraft. Changi Airport is considered one of the best airports in the world. With more than 36.7 million passengers passing through in 2007, Singapore Changi Airport’s emergency resources are substantially larger than CPH’s. Nevertheless, the six delegates were impressed when they saw CPH’s new Panther fire engine in action in the fire-drill area of Copenhagen Airport. 

Inspiration and exchange of ideas

The delegates from Changi Airport spent three days at Copenhagen Airport, where they visited two fire stations, saw fire-extinguishing techniques, the airport’s lifeboat in operation and visited Roskilde Airport.
 
“Copenhagen Airport’s Fire and Rescue Department has a very good name in the industry. They are very well structured, professional and sophisticated in their work. Copenhagen and Singapore work under different conditions, but we face the same challenges in the day-to-day management of our emergency resources. A study trip to Copenhagen gives us the opportunity to exchange ideas so that we can improve our emergency set up at Singapore, which is an ongoing process,” said Ang Guan Hin, Commander at Singapore Changi Airport. 

Introduction to new fire-extinguishing technique

Jens Peter Larsen, Fire Chief at Copenhagen Airports A/S, had composed the programme with special emphasis on the fire-extinguishing technique used at Copenhagen Airport and presentations of equipment: 

“For a number of years, Copenhagen Airport has used a high-pressure technology for fire-fighting in aircraft, which allows the use of foam liquid on the high-pressure side. That is new in the industry. In addition, the new Panther has a socalled Compressed Air Foam System, which provides a better foam quality and an increased throwing length. Overall, it was the new techniques the people from Changi Airport were very interested in and the area where they can benefit from our experience," said Peter Larsen. 

According to Ang Guan Hin of Singapore Changi Airport, the delegation learnt several things but, in particular, they can use the fire-extinguishing technique developed by Copenhagen Airport when they come back to Singapore: 

“It was interesting to be introduced to the special and unique fire-extinguishing technique used at CPH. Moreover, CPH has new and sophisticated equipment for instance their new fire engine,” said Ang Guan Hin. 

Several delegations visit Copenhagen Airport each year

Each year, two to three delegations from other airports visit Copenhagen Airport’s Fire and Rescue Department. Moreover, in September 2007, Copenhagen Airports headed a large Nordic conference with 100 delegates from 16 different airports. People from Copenhagen Airport also travel abroad to get input on how to improve emergency resources and achieve efficiency improvements. Most recently, three firemen visited Dallas Airport in the United States where they obtained new knowledge about rescue stairs and handling of new, larger types of aircraft.