Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting

Program Chief – Thomas.Phalen[located_at]vdfp[period]virginia[period]gov

Tom_Phalen

1005 Technology Park Drive
Glen Allen, VA 23059-4500
Office: 804-249-1980
Fax: 804-371-3209
E-mail: thomas.phalen[located_at]vdfp[period]virginia[period]gov

Thomas “Tom” Phalen came to the Department after serving as a Company Officer for thirteen years with the Virginia Air National Guard Fire & Rescue. Tom was one of the original members of the Air Guard Fire Department in July of 1991. Tom has worked in both civilian and military ARFF since 1979.

Tom began his fire service career as a volunteer with the Charlie Rouss Fire Company in Winchester Virginia. After high school, Tom served in the US Navy. After his separation from the Navy, Tom enrolled in the Fire Science Program at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Tom and his wife Susie have a son, Patrick, who is a Virginia State Trooper.

Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting

Since 1998, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs ARFF has utilized the Kidde Fire Trainer, Inc A-3000 Mobile Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Training Simulator (MARFFTS) to support its ARFF program. Computer controlled and fueled by propane, the MARFTS allows airport fire department personnel to train at their facility with their equipment and mutual aid departments. The MARFFTS also meets the job performance requirements (JPR’s) of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 1003, “Airport Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.” The MARFFTS travels to all nine of the commercial air carrier airports in the Commonwealth.

In 2004, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs revised their General Aviation class by adapting William Tackett’s’ book General Aviation Firefighting for Structural Firefighters. This sixteen-hour class involves a field trip to the local airport, group exercises, as well as traditional lecture. There is no live fire training associated with this class. The student manual for this class is available for downloading by clicking on the links below.

General Aviation Student Manual:

Chapter 1 - General Aviation
Chapter 2 - The Airport Environment
Chapter 3 - Communications
Chapter 4 - General Aviation Aircraft System
Chapter 5 - Coordinating with other Agencies
Chapter 6 - Emergency Plan
Chapter 7 - Incidents General Aviation
Chapter 8 - Incidents on Airport Property
Chapter 9 - Incidents off Airport Property
Chapter 10 - Training

ARFF News

Filming for new FFA ARFF Training film

Upcoming Courses

COURSE	LOCATION	DATE
ARFF Certification Class	Richmond CLASS FULL	March 1 – 6, 2010
Aircraft Live Fire Trainings	Norfolk	March 13 – 21, 2010
General Aviation	Rural Retreat	March 27 – 28, 2010
General Aviation	New Kent	April 17 – 18, 2010
Aircraft Live Fire Trainings	Charlottesville	April 24 – May 1, 2010
Aircraft Live Fire Training & Tri-Annual Drill	Dulles	May 2 – 14, 2010
ARFF Certification Class	Manassas CLASS FULL	May 15 – 23, 2010
Aircraft Live Fire Training	Lynchburg	June 5 – 13, 2010

Contact Information:

Thomas Phalen
Email: thomas.phalen[located_at]vdfp[period]virginia[period]gov
Office: 804-249-1980

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites for the ARFF certification class?

Firefighters wanting to the ARFF certification class must have Fire Fighter II and Hazardous Materials Operations. These can be through VDFP, DOD, IFSAC, or Pro Board. You MUST have these posted to FSTRS prior to attending the class. This is an intense six-day class, twenty-four hours of academics and twenty-four hours of practical skills and live fire evolutions. There is a written test. You must score 70% or higher and successfully complete all the practical skills to earn ARFF certification.

What do I need to attend the ARFF certification class?

You need the current edition of the IFSTA Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting textbook. You will need to bring turn out gear, it does not need to be proximity gear, SCBA with two spare bottles and face piece.

How much does the IFSTA textbook cost and where can I buy it?

The IFSTA textbook is available thru the VDFP bookstore, check with the Bookstore Coordinator for current price. The textbook can be ordered online at www.vafire.com, click on Bookstore, click on ISFTA and other publications. The item number is 1002 5e.

What are the prerequisites for the General Aviation class?

You must be eighteen. There are no firefighter prerequisites for the class. The class is for those emergency service responders -fire, law enforcement, rescue, and other members of the community that may be involved in the mitigation of an aviation accident/incident.

Is there a textbook for the General Aviation class?

Yes, it is William Tackett's General Aviation Firefighting for Structural Firefighters. It is available from the VDFP bookstore, check with the Bookstore Coordinator regarding price. Student manuals are available for downloading from the VDFP website www.vafire.com. Go to Training, click on Training and Technical Services, click on ARFF and you will see the link to download the manual.

What are the prerequisites for the Aircraft Live Fire Training?

The Aircraft Live Fire Training is not a formal training class. It is for the Airport Fire Department to meet its Federal Aviation Administration requirement of annual live fire training and to provide mutual aid training to those that would respond to an aviation incident.

Those firefighters wising to participate in Aircraft Live Fire Training should contact the ARFF Program Chief at 804-249-1980 and must meet the criteria of NFPA 1403 as stated below:

5.1 Student Prerequisites
5.1.1* Prior to being permitted to participate in live fire training evolutions, the student shall have received training to meet the job performance requirements for Fire Fighter I in NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, related to the following subjects: