Safety is one of the major concerns in modern civil aviation. For this reason, it is crucial to prepare pilots and crew members for various scenarios. It means that realistic training is essential to practice under existing conditions. Respondents need to undertake practical training to prepare them to deal effectively with these types of emergencies. In the discussed video, the communication from the crew to air traffic control (ATC) was delivered about twenty minutes out (Haynes, 1991).
That is why there is a need to enhance specialists’ skills to deal with these types of emergencies effectively. The Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) and the local military unit were prepared to assist with the aircraft’s response (Haynes, 1991). At the same time, it is vital to establish such processes on the aircrew and on the ground to ensure successful reactions to unusual conditions.
Another possible way to improve emergent situations’ responses is to train personnel to a standard methodology to allow for cross-functional understanding and interoperability. The training of individuals is a crucial part of the current safety measures and procedure of how to act in unexpected situations. Moreover, training should presuppose the ability to function in different scenarios as various types of risks can precondition the crash of aircraft. For this reason, it is crucial to enhance crew members’ skills by using simulations and realistic training.
Government involvement is another fundamental aspect of emergency response training. It helps to gather additional support for organizing such courses and standardize them. Moreover, there is a need to involve other agencies in these activities because they can monitor and collect useful information. The involvement of these actors will contribute to a better planning and response procedure. The discussed video shows that ARFF operations are crucial for creating a safe environment and can benefit from the involvement of additional actors (BBC, n.d.). It means that the establishment of a new approach can help to reduce the risks.
Furthermore, it is possible to state that federal control is a crucial asset needed in managing emergencies and responding to them. The federal government took part in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and all requirements are outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Federal control is essential in guaranteeing that all response activities are verified and enacted in due time. On the other hand, the local authorities are demanded for the response as they observe that everything is organized in accordance with AEP. The local organization should be responsible for making sure that the personnel engaged in the operations are qualified. In such a way, government, federal, and international agencies’ involvement is vital to attain higher interoperability levels and better risk management.
As stated previously, safety is the central concern for civil aviation, and it has a functional system in place. However, the previous accidents prove the necessity for higher flexibility levels and the need for continuous improvement. The major aspects of the framework should be reconsidered with the technological advances and alterations in aircraft. The CFR sections also support this position as they emphasize the need for enhancement to meet new challenges. Observation of this approach will ensure that the system in place is functional and works effectively.
Thus, cogitating about ARFF, my position is that this aspect should continuously alter to meet the state-of-art air travel and current safety demands. The current process is successful and effective; however, there is also a place for improvement, guaranteeing more stable functioning. Some local ARFF units are managed separately, and according to the ARFF team, it can be viewed as a drawback. That is why I would ensure that these departments belong to a bigger system managing better coordination and cooperation. This approach will also help to save money and cultivate a better response to different situations that emerge today.
References
BBC. (n.d.). The unflyable plane. BBC. Web.
Haynes, A. (1991). The crash of United flight 232. John Clear. Web.