b'32 APFENVIRONMENTALIt took about five days to flush,test and recertify each vehicle. The third ARFF unit used at APF, a 2008 rapid interventionA3+ from BIOEX came on the market and later became the vehicle, was not part of the project because its pumping systemproduct of choice for Naples Airport Authority. It involved ARFF cannot use newer fluorine-free foams. So, the Naples Airportleadership in the decision-making process, even sending the Authority is replacing it with a new $400,000 vehicle that can.fire chief to product demonstrations to ensure the best possible Delivery of the new unit is expected by April 2025. Until then,product was chosen. The project team reached out to peer ARFF crews continue using the current rapid intervention vehicleairports and industry connections nationwide to gain insight on only if absolutely required.effectively navigating this important transition.For instance, the team contacted personnel at Jackson Hole Early AdopterAirport, which transitioned to fluorine-free foam in late October Last year APF logged about 119,0002023; and Eastern Iowa Airport, which changed over its ARFF operations, with traffic spiking for the wintervehicles in March 2024. The American Association of Airport tourist season. Despite its small size, itsExecutives and the Florida Airports Council provided contact on the leading edge of a change that willinformation and other resources. eventually affect airports large and small throughout the country. FAA Aircraft RescueJIM PRICE Brown and his Operations and Maintenance staff were Firefighting Specialist Jim Price, who observed the transition atsupported by several key figures from the Naples Airport APF explains that airports still have the option of staying with AFFF,Authority: Steven Kofsky, division chief of Emergency or using both it and fluorine-free foam while transitioning to theManagement and Training; Raul Estrada, senior operations latter. In the meantime, FAA continues to recommend that airportsmanager; and Linda Jackson Best, senior procurement and use AFFF only during an actual emergency, Price specifies. Thatcontracts manager. Joining them on site were Price (from the is, AFFF should not be discharged to test dispensing equipment,FAA); Montrose/ECT2, a company that specializes in PFAS which was previously standard procedure. remediation and the transition to fluorine-free firefighting foams; E-One, manufacturer of the Titan ARFF truck; and In May 2023, FAA published guidanceNoFoam Systems, which provided surrogate test liquid for for airports about changing over to fluorine- foam proportioner equipment testing. VLS/Texas Molecular also free foam. (See Facts & Figures on Page 30consulted regarding the transport and disposal processes.for website reference.) By July of the same year, Naples Airport Authority was alreadyHow it Happenedunderway with research and preparation In about one year, Naples Airport Authority managed to assemble a even before FAA-approved fluorine-free foamBARRY BROWN team and complete the transition on two of its ARFF vehicles. Thats was commercially available, notes Barrythe short version of a complex, multi-step process that had to be Brown, director of Operations and Maintenance for Naples Airportexacting, given the serious safety and environmental implications.Authority. In October 2023, the fluorine-free alternative ECOPOL November | December 2024AirportImprovement.com'