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Story by: Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo - Joint Force Headquarters
Dated: Thu, Sep 27, 2012
LATHAM, N.Y. --New York Army National Guard aviators and Albany International Airport firefighters teamed up to exchange expertise and familiarize each other on emergency procedures at the National Guard’s aviation facility, Sept. 27.
"We taught them our helicopter shutdown and extraction procedures in the event an incident involving an aircraft requires emergency assistance," explained Lt. Col. Kevin Ferreira, Army Aviation Support Facility commander.
In an emergency, the airport firefighters will be first to respond to help.
According to Ferreira, safety is a number one priority for the aviators and includes being prepared for the worst, should it happen.
"We incorporate safety into everything we do. Training like this ensures our first responders have as much information about our aircraft as possible in the event they are needed," Ferreira said.
"This training enabled us to learn the configuration of the helicopter and see in advance what we need to avoid to keep everyone safe during an emergency," said Albany International Airport firefighter Ron Coy.
"Practicing how to shut down the aircraft and extract a pilot and crew quickly is critical to ensure the safety of both the military and ourselves," Coy added.
The fireman reciprocated by teaching the aviators how to identify the various types of fire extinguishers and how to use them.
"It’s easy to say you know how to use an extinguisher, but during a fire is not the time to find out it’s not as easy as it looks," said Coy.
