“Ensuring we have reliable equipment to support not only our airline operations, but also respond to any incident on the airport is critical and we are excited to bring this new ARFF truck online.”
– Charity Zich, Airport Director.
The Chippewa Valley Regional Airport recently took delivery of a new 2024 Oshkosh Striker Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle. This marks the latest update to the Airport’s public safety equipment and one of the final steps in eliminating the use of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated firefighting foam with intentionally added Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). All airports with scheduled airline service are mandated by the FAA to have ARFF capability during airline operations to ensure a timely response to any potential incident can be achieved. This new ARFF vehicle ensures the Airport is equipped to meet FAA requirements for years to come.
The new 2024 Oshkosh Striker was acquired with dollars through the FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP), funded primarily through aviation user fees. The new Striker replaces an earlier 2005 model Oshkosh ARFF response vehicle as the primary response medium. The older truck will be retained as a backup to ensure equipment issues will not result in reduced operational capabilities and/or loss of airline flights. The new Striker is capable of carrying 1,500 gallons of water which can be dispensed from either a bumper or roof turret.
“Air service is important to our community and our operations here at the airport,” said Charity Zich, Airport Director. “Ensuring we have reliable equipment to support not only our airline operations, but also respond to any incident on the airport is critical and we are excited to bring this new ARFF truck online.”
The 2024 Striker ARFF vehicle comes with a new type of firefighting foam only recently approved by the FAA for use on aircraft fires. Fluorine Free Foam (F3) comes with no intentionally added Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), otherwise known as “forever chemicals.” The transition to F3 foam is the final step in CVRA’s efforts to reduce and eliminate the use of AFFF on the Airport. With the new ARFF truck in service, cleaning of the backup vehicle will take place allowing that truck to switch to the F3 firefighting foam and all remaining AFFF will be removed from the Airport.
