Primer:  Airport Public Safety


Every day, airport operators work to ensure public safety. Public safety at airports involves protecting passengers, the general public, airport employees, airline employees, and employees of other businesses at the airport. This protection is provided by police, fire fighters and emergency medical service personnel. Tied closely with the public safety activities at airports are the security activities at airports.

 

Public Safety Framework at Airports

Police, fire fighting and emergency medical services (EMS) are provided at commercial service airports across the United States. 

Public safety requirements:

  • In general, various regulations govern the training and certification of police, fire fighters and EMS personnel that serve airports.
  • Police officers, fire fighters, and EMS personnel that serve airports may be airport employees, or employees of the local or state government.  In some cases, EMS personnel may be private contractors.
  • In addition to general fire fighting responsibilities, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules require airports with commercial airline operations to provide aircraft rescue and fire fighting services:
    • Fire fighters are required for any airport with scheduled service with nine or more seats.
    • Fire fighters must also undergo specialized initial and recurrent training for aircraft rescue and fire fighting.
  • Police officers at airports also assist with security, including responding to problems at the passenger screening checkpoint.
  • At some airports, police and fire fighters who are trained in basic emergency medial response may constitute the primary EMS support.
  • Airports also have Airport Emergency Plans to ensure a coordinated response to emergency events.

 

Airport Public Safety Roles

Police/Law Enforcement Officers

  • Enforce state and local laws
  • Patrol the airport
  • Conduct criminal investigations
  • Enforce traffic regulations
  • Respond to emergency medical calls and may provide basic emergency medical service
  • Use canine teams to check for explosives
  • Assist with emergency preparedness planning and response
  • Assist in meeting security-related requirements under TSA-approved airport security programs


Fire Fighters

  • Fire prevention and response planning
  • Fire response and rescue operations, including:
    • Aircraft accidents
    • Structural/facility fires
    • Vehicle fires and accidents
    • Hazardous materials incidents
  • Assist in emergency preparedness planning and response
  • Respond to emergency medical calls and provide basic emergency medical service


Emergency Medical Service Personnel

  • Respond to emergency medical calls, provide basic emergency medical service, and provide transport to a hospital
  • Assist in emergency preparedness planning and response

 

Emergency Planning at Airports


Airports develop airport emergency plan to address crisis situations. There are also other special plans that airports may have in place and/or that the federal government has developed that can assist airports in special circumstances.

  • Airport Emergency Plan (AEP): The AEP is coordinated with other plans, such as the Airport Security Program and airlines’ emergency plans. 

         AEP preparation includes training and drills for those who will be involved in responding to an emergency.

The Plan addresses:

    • Aircraft incidents and accidents
    • Bomb threats and incidents
    • Structural fires
    • Natural disasters such as hurricane, earthquake, and flood
    • Hazardous materials
    • Sabotage, hijack and other unlawful interference with operations
    • Water rescue situations
    • Crowd control and terminal evacuation


  • National Pandemic Plan (NPP): The NPP outlines the coordinated federal government effort with states and localities, including airports and airlines to prevent and prepare for avian and pandemic flu. Some airports have developed specific pandemic plans for how the airport will respond in the event of a pandemic outbreak. The federal plan is designed to address three main goals:
    • Detect human or animal outbreaks that occur anywhere in the world
    • Stockpile vaccines and antiviral drugs
    • Respond at Federal, state, and local levels if an avian or pandemic influenza reaches the United States.

  • National Response Plan (NRP): The NRP, published by the Department of Homeland Security, establishes a comprehensive approach to domestic incident management to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.  The NRP uses the National Incident Management System, which sets standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures for use at federal, state, and local levels, including airports.

 

Compiled Charles R. Chambers, Jr. (cchambers@aci-na.org)

ACI-NA’s Senior Vice President, Security and Facilitation

and

Lydia Kellogg (lkellogg@aci-na.org)

ACI-NA’s Senior Manager, Public Safety and Security