IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
The simulated crash-landing of a Gulfstream II aircraft at the Chino Airport, owned by Chino-based Threshold Aviation Group (TAG), provided the scenario for three days of training in airplane rescues for some 100 Chino Valley Fire District (CVFD) firefighters.
According to staff members at Threshold the Gulfstream II was manufactured in 1971 and is economically obsolete. But the fully operational plane previously owned by an entertainment industry executive and now housed at Chino Airport, provided the perfect opportunity for Chino Valley firefighters to train for an on-the-ground plane disaster after a supposed crash landing.
“This is an enormously good opportunity for the community and for CVFD’s firefighters,” said Mark DiLullo. Chief Executive Officer of TAG. “It’s a rare occasion for firefighters to be able to stage training for an airport crash-landing with an actual airplane on-site. It’s a great way to repurpose the plane and we’re pleased to be part of this valuable training.”
In donating the Gulfstream II for the firefighters’ exercises, Threshold made it clear to CVFD they could stage the drill however was best for their personnel. CVFD took full advantage of the invitation. The rescue- simulated scenario included two passengers/manikins who were both injured and unable to exit the plane due to their injuries and damage to the main cabin door. This called for forcible entry into the cabin while an engine fire is extending into the plane’s fuselage with 300 gallons of JET A fuel on board. In order to provide even more realism to the drill, a smoke machine was used to simulate smoke inside the cabin area.
The actual drills always included rescuing the two manikins and forcible entry into the cabin but the process of the rescues varied. Complete with firefighting foam and water, one drill saw firefighters break out passenger windows over the plane’s left wing to safely slide out the “passengers” while another drill had firefighters actually saw through the plane’s fuselage and safely retrieve the manikins via the plane’s gaping hole.
“With the generous efforts provided by the Chino Airport and Threshold Aviation, it was possible for our organization to experience purposeful and realistic training,” said Training Captain Joe DeSoto.
These types of training opportunities are a great benefit to our fire personnel because they provide our firefighters with realistic, but safe conditions in which to enhance their skills.
As for Threshold’s plane — now truly unable to fly — they plan to scrap the remaining pieces of the plane saying there no market for any of the plane’s parts.
