National airports to comply with new standard

The Aviation Authority has been given seven airport vehicles rescue and lectured on the fight against Fire (SLI) for airports in Maroua, Ngaoundere, Bamenda, Batouri, Koutaba, Tiko, and Mamfe.

This was during the Industrial Development Corporation security (SIDES) workshops on December 11, 2015, in Saint-Nazaire (France)

From the end of January 2016, in the field of rescue and the fight against the fire, the level of protection of Maroua and Ngaoundere airports will be maximum, while the air traffic will take place under better security conditions in Bamenda, Batouri, Koutaba, Tiko and Mamfe.

Both airports of the north already has, each in 2013 and 2014, an average of two fire trucks (capacity 6100 liters) and a rapid response car track (Flyco), will soon have a small-scope response vehicle (VIPP).

On the side of Bamenda, old fire trucks currently in use will be replaced by a VIPP. While the forms of flat airport Batouri, Koutaba, Mamfe and Tiko will each have a rapid response vehicle foam (VIRM) that can carry 800 liters of water and 50 liters of foam concentrate.

The three small power fire engines are all-terrain vehicles with 4-wheel drive. They have a water tank with a capacity of 4000 liters. Such tanks have an overflow system, two trays with suction strainer and drain valve and a suction pipe connected to the pump.

Another asset, the tanks can be filled by external source using a pump and a pipe provided for this purpose. The water pump fitted to the trucks at a rate of 2000 liters per minute. The ordered trucks to be specially designed for extinguishing large fires airplane, they were also equipped with a foam concentrate tank of 560 liters, a powder allowing the rapid extinction of huge fires.

Unlike vehicle city station, these vehicles are equipped each with a lance turret assisted foam gun secured to the front body of the vehicle. This launch turret which is electronically controlled can make a 240 ° rotation (2x120 °) at a rate of 2,000 liters per minute and a full jet range of 70 meters.

The trucks also have two portable foam lances with a capacity of 25 meters for a flow of 450 liters per minute. The control valves can be accessed from the cabin or locally near the spear. The vehicles rescue and fight against fire are provided with a protection device before and under the vehicle consisting of two broadcasters in the front and four generators broadcasters under the truck. These solutions have a flow rate of 250 liters per minute with a range of the jet of 2 meters and a width of 1.5 meters.

For intervention in complete darkness, the three trucks are equipped with special projectors. They also have two working lights on each side of the tank, two search lights on the barrel and a telescopic mast with three 220V projectors. Concerning the rapid response vehicles foam intended for Batouri airports, Tiko, Mamfe, and Koutaba, that are robust all-terrain equipped with a position at 50 kg powder with trigger and hose and a tank 800 liters of water. They are equipped with a water pump and a filling pipe and intervention.

Reception

The factory acceptance of such equipment was made by Jean-Pierre Kouogueu, Director of Operations at the Aerospace Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) in the presence of Valentin Epoupa Bossambo, Director General of the Ministry of Public Procurement Markets.

Kedote Etienne, Head of Park Rescue vehicles and Fight against fire from the Directorate General of ASECNA conducted the technical inspection of all components of the vehicles, to ensure they were in compliance with the specifications. It has for a week, tested the operation of all the equipment of the different vehicles.

He has scrutinized the conduct of road vehicles and operation of all water distribution circuits and emulsifiers. It should be noted that if an airline warning fire, the response time between the warning and the arrival on the scene of the fire is 2 minutes. The fire vehicle must empty its tanks in a maximum time of three minutes. Control has also extended to the mechanical shutter gear.

All vehicles will come with a large batch of spare parts and the guarantee for the revisions and repairs will be handled by different SIDES for three years. The acquisition of these seven vehicles rescues and fight against the fire door to 17 the number of fire vehicles acquired by the CCAA for airports in Maroua, Ngaoundere, Bertoua, Bafoussam, Koutaba, Tiko, Mamfe and Bamenda since 2013. Now, air traffic can develop safely on all of these airports.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority has initiated since 2010 a program of modernization and rehabilitation of equipment and aids to air navigation airports in Maroua, Bafoussam, and Ngaoundere. At Maroua-Salak, different projects are executed more than 95%.

Bafoussam including domestic flights will resume in a few months, is also under rehabilitation and will be ready for the major events that Cameroon will organize during the 2016-2019 period.