The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Board has approved the purchase of two new aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles, which will help maintain an optimal level of emergency service on the airfield at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
The two Rosenbauer Panther 6X6 vehicles were purchased for 2,001,341 USD and are currently in production. They are expected to be delivered to MCO in 2024.
These new vehicles will enable MCO’s ARFF department to meet and exceed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards for minimum response time and the required number of emergency vehicles on the airfield.
MCO was previously required to have three ARFF vehicles in-service at all times. However, due to its increasing number of passengers following the recent opening of Terminal C, this requirement has risen to four.
Currently, MCO operates four in-service ARFF vehicles and has one in reserve.
One of the new vehicles will replace a current vehicle that will reach the end of its service life in 2024. The second will be an additional vehicle, thus increasing the number of frontline in-service vehicles to five.
This expanded fleet will provide greater flexibility in strategically placing the vehicles across the airfield and will lead to more training opportunities.
The new trucks have capacity for over 3,000 gallons of water, over 400 gallons of foam and over 500 pounds of dry chemical agent for fire suppression. They each have a roof and bumper turret system as well as undertruck nozzles and handlines.
The ordered vehicles can also disperse agent while moving and can be operated by a single ARFF member.
