Rescue and Fire Fighting Services

The Air Navigation Services Regulation Division of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands is responsible for the certification and regulatory safety oversight of Air Navigation Services Systems.

Obligations for this responsibility are based on a 1944 agreement called the Chicago Convention which organised its signators into the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This agreement put in place a commitment to foster the growth and safety of international air transportation through compliance with Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) that are attached to the Convention in detailed Annexes.

The United Kingdom is a signatory to this agreement and the Cayman Islands, as one of its Overseas Territories, accepts the same commitments. The U.K. created the Air Navigation (Overseas Territory) Order [AN(OT)O] as amended, and the more detailed descriptions provided in the Overseas Territory Aviation Requirements (OTARs) to help its Territorial members to comply with these requirements.

ICAO Responsibilities

In accordance with the provisions of Annex 14, States are required to provide rescue and fire-fighting equipment and services at an airport. In the Cayman Islands, OTAR 140 provides the more detailed requirement of:

  1. The operator of a certificated aerodrome to ensure that an RFFS:
    1. is provided at their aerodrome; and
    2. is organised, equipped, staffed, trained and operated to meet its proper functions; and
    3. is located on the aerodrome, or an off-aerodrome location where the Governor is satisfied that the response time and minimum discharge rate can be met; and
  2. The Governor to determine those non-certificated aerodromes at which an RFFS will be provided.
    The Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements (OTAR 140) further states the objectives of these requirements as to:

    1. save lives during an aircraft accident or incident occurring at, or in the immediate vicinity of an aerodrome.
    2. respond to aircraft accident or incident within the Fire-Fighting Response area in accordance with paragraph 140.43;
    3. assume command and control of the Hazard Zone for the accident or incident site in an effective and efficient manner; and
    4. preserve the accident or incident site for aircraft investigation.

Regulatory Requirements

To ensure all regulatory requirements are being met, the Civil Aviation Authority provides oversight on the service. OTAR 140 is the reference document containing requirements concerning Rescue and Fire Fighting Services approval.

View OTAR 140 (Rescue and Fire Fighting Services)

Required Documentation

An RFFS provider shall ensure that there is an RFFS Manual prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined in OTAR 140.21 and the associated Appendix A.

An RFFS provider must have immediate access to current copies of relevant technical manuals and any other documents necessary for the provision and operation for the services listed in its RFFS Manual.

An RFFS provider shall ensure that a logbook, in accordance with the requirements in OTAR 140.167, is kept at each station.

Records associated with these documents and material related to an accident or incident must be kept for a period of 5 years. This shall include records for:

  1. RFFS personnel:
    1. training received; and
    2. competency and performance evaluations.
  2. RFFS vehicle(s):
    1. commissioning/initial performance testing; and
    2. initial certification and recurrent foam system testing; and
    3. initial certification and recurrent complementary agent system testing; and
    4. regular inspection; and
    5. maintenance; and
  3. Ancillary equipment:
    1. maintenance; and
    2. inspections; and
    3. tests; and
  4. Fire-fighting agents:
    1. foam certification of conformity to ICAO; and
    2. complementary agent conformity to ISO; and
      1. Watchroom logs; and
      2. Incidents/accidents reports; and
      3. Safety Management reports/assessments; and
      4. Any other record required by the RFFS provider and/or aerodrome operator.

Specific details pertaining to this documentation is provided in OTAR 140 Subpart B for:

140.51           Organisation Exposition

140.55           Manual of RFFS

140.57           Safety Management System

140.59            Personnel Requirements

140.61            Facility Requirements

Criteria is then provided in Subpart C for:

140.107          Personnel

140.109          Fire Fighting Vehicles

140.111           Rescue Equipment and Medical Supplies

140.113           Extinguishing Agents

140.115           Additional Water Supplies

140.117           Radio Communications

140.119            Test and Inspection

140.121            Fire Station(s)

140.123            Response Time Objective

140.125            Notification of Facility Status

140.127            Watchroom Log

140.131            Watch Administration

140.133             Records

Civil Aviation Authority

The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for providing Rescue and Fire Fighting Service safety oversight. An approval from the CAA is required for the RFFS operating manual and any changes made to that document.

Based on a risk assessment of the RFFS program, the CAA will develop inspection site specific checklists to conduct safety oversight assessments.