Significant investment has been made to enhance the firefighting capability at Sandown Airport ahead of visitors returning in 2021.
9 members of staff have been put through a firefighting course to equip them with vital skills in how to tackle an emergency situation on the airfield.
Although rare, when a situation does occur fast action is vital to save lives and reduce the risk of the incident developing.
A Land Rover Defender fire tender has also been overhauled to ensure it is ready to be put into action at a moment’s notice, dealing with low-category incidents.
Thanks to the support of Devon Freewheelers, ‘Ernie’ has been given a new lease of life with new lighting all round, new electrics, seats and tyres plus a good polish. All of the pumping equipment has also been serviced. The tender is now also equipped with a medical pack and a defibrillator.
Dan Subhani, the owner of Sandown Airport, has said that the decision to invest in in-house services has been taken to support the Island’s emergency services should a situation ever occur.
In 2015, a plane being flown by a French national crashed shortly after take-off. Amazingly, the pilot was pulled from the wreckage before it burst into flames. The incident happened on the same day as the tragic disaster at Shoreham Airport on the mainland.
Can’t wait to get flying again .