Club life: firefighters trained at Gray
News from 16 March 2021. Last updated on 22 March 2021: some information may have changed. Latest news
On 1 March 2021, the two fire stations of Besançon (Doubs) were trained in pyrotechnic risks when attending the scene of an accident involving an aircraft. This is not the 1st time Gray Light Aviation has organised this type of day, as they had already trained the firefighters and gendarmes of Haute-Saône in 2020.
The topics covered
Firefighters are often the first at the scene of an aircraft accident to help any victims. It is in this context that they were trained by Gray Light Aviation on various topics, notably the risk of a secondary accident caused by the pyrotechnic rockets of reserve parachutes when attending the scene of an accident involving an aircraft.
The training therefore began by identifying the different aircraft, aeroplanes and the different categories of microlight. The firefighters were then made aware that fitting a reserve parachute with pyrotechnic rocket deployment is increasingly common on microlights. In an accident involving a microlight with a parachute, firefighters can be exposed to risks linked to unintended deployment. The aim is therefore to identify these systems. This can be done through the parachute pictograms, but these are not always visible or fitted on the aircraft.
Firefighters made aware of the dangers of pyrotechnic systems
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In the firefighters’ ranks, many had the image of the weight-shift microlight but did not know of the existence of the 5 other classes and of parachute systems. They took away that all aircraft can be fitted with pyrotechnic systems. It is therefore vital for their safety to identify and secure the system.
Indeed, it poses a real risk, especially when extracting any victims. An internal firefighter prevention sheet exists, but it says to call a bomb disposal team, which is unthinkable for them when they want to rescue the injured. This training was therefore very useful in enabling them to secure these pyrotechnic systems and guarantee everyone’s safety.
Firefighters ready for the training
Article and photos © Gray Light Aviation
