A candidate for an airport firefighter must have both basic firefighting experience and the specialized skills required to prevent and manage airport emergencies. Before becoming an airport firefighter, most regions have specific qualifications, including certification requirements, that must be met. In order to work in this critical area of firefighting, candidates may need to meet age and fitness requirements as well as pass a background check.
A person cannot become an airport firefighter in most regions unless he or she has previously served as a firefighter with a military unit or a regional fire department. Candidates must attend a civilian or military firefighting academy, pass tests, and find work with an existing firefighting unit to meet this requirement. Regional firefighters may want to take additional classes in hazardous waste material handling and emergency medical care in preparation for airport firefighter training, as these skills may be required at an airport job.
Additional certification may be required once a firefighter has established himself as a professional. Regional firefighting organizations may offer special certification courses tailored to the requirements at local airports, and this may be the best option for those who plan to stay in the same geographic area. Firefighters will learn about the different types of emergencies, fires, and hazards they may encounter as airport workers in a certification course, as well as the methods used to prevent and manage airport fires and rescue situations. These courses can last several weeks or even months, and they may include both classroom and hands-on training.
Students may be required to pass rigorous written and practical exams in order to obtain a certificate. Questions on applicable laws, safety procedures, and a firefighter’s problem-solving skills may be included in written tests. In practical exams, firefighters may be required to respond to simulated emergencies in a code-compliant manner, sometimes within a set time limit. If a student fails to demonstrate the skills learned in training, he or she may be denied the opportunity to work as an airport firefighter.
In order to become an airport firefighter, a person may need to meet some personal criteria in addition to receiving proper training. Even if they have already been certified as a firefighter, many regions require firefighters to wait until they are 18 to apply for an airport job. To ensure that all firefighters are in good enough health to handle their dangerous work, some airport firefighting units may have upper age limits and fitness requirements. Because airport security is a concern, applicants for airport firefighting jobs may be required to pass a criminal background check.