Best Practices for Combined ARFF and Airport Operations Departments

Many medium, small, and non-hub airports use staffing models that combine Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) and airport operations functions to improve staffing efficiency while maintaining required emergency response capabilities. Personnel in these roles are often responsible for multiple operational functions, creating challenges related to balancing emergency response readiness with routine airport operations, maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting a consistent safety culture, and managing competing operational priorities. Airports operating with combined staffing models require practical guidance to address these operational challenges while complementing existing FAA regulatory requirements. The objective of this research is to evaluate the operational, safety, and regulatory implications of combined ARFF/Operations staffing models and develop practical, data-driven guidance for airports. The research should examine implementation approaches for combined ARFF and operations functions, training practices, task saturation, operational staffing models, and the use of emerging technologies that support airport operations and emergency response. The project will produce best practice recommendations, staffing frameworks, risk assessment tools, and decision-making guidance to assist airports that currently use or are considering combined ARFF/Operations departments while complementing, rather than interpreting or replacing, existing FAA regulatory requirements.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6104
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $450,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 04-39

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Managing Organizations:

  Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Griffin, Matthew

• Start Date: 20260831
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Airport Cooperative Research Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Best practices; Fire fighting; Implementation; Personnel management; Search and rescue operations; Training
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 02001517
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 04-39
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 1 2026 11:51AM