GMR Infrastructure - Indira Gandhi International Airport Gets Fighting Fit

GMR Infrastructure Ltd has informed that Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd. (DIAL), the Company's Subsidiary Company has commissioned a fleet of state of the art new Aircraft Crash Fire Tenders (ACFT) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport as part of the existing fleet of Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Vehicles.

In this regard the Company has issued the following Press Release:

"A fleet of state of the art new Aircraft Crash Fire Tenders (ACFT) has been commissioned at the Indira Gandhi International Airport as part of the existing fleet of Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Vehicles. Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd, a joint venture consortium managing modernizing the IGI Airport has inducted these vehicles manufactured by Rosenbauer International AG of Austria. The Panther 6x6 ACFT vehicle is the most modern fire fighting unit posted at any airport in India. The induction of these vehicles has greatly boosted IGI Airport's capabilities & to respond to any aircraft or fire related exigency.

Featuring an ultra powerful 705hp engine, these vehicles can quickly access any part of the airfield while responding to emergencies. Its most unique feature is the 'Low Visibility Enhanced Vision' system which is guided by a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Camera mounted on the cabin roof. This system provides enhanced vision capability even in smoky, foggy, or dark environments by sensing thermal radiation instead of visible light. It can also be used in fires to detect hot spots, evaluate hot aircraft brakes or human detection in up to 450 m distance.

The system allows the driver to navigate the airport in poor visibility conditions by only looking at the screen displaying a thermal image of the surroundings allowing them to precede even in zero visibility conditions. Considering the difficult weather conditions at IGI Airport during winter, DIAL opted to install this equipment on all new ACFT vehicles, ensuring best possible response, capabilities even in the most difficult conditions.

Built using advanced composite materials, the vehicle has a water capacity of 12,500 liters along with 1,500 liters of fire retardant foam and 500kg of Dry chemicals to fight fire. Its powerful pumps ensure that its roof mounted jet can spray an astounding 6,000 litres per minute up to a distance of 90 metres.

In addition, DIAL fire fighters have also been equipped with new helmets, Aluminum coated protective suits and boots, all complying with the global fire safety standards. These equipment improve the efficiency of the fire fighters while fully protecting them during their saving missions.

DIAL fire-fighters have been trained in Malaysia, Delhi and Hyderabad to fight Crash Aircraft in five or without fire and rescue the passengers by keeping the lives as well as property risk at the lowest. Programmes also trained DIAL fire-fighters to the necessary investigation aspects of the crushed aircraft.

DIAL is committed to providing the best of facilities to its passengers and customers at IGI Airport. With the commissioning of the new runway and domestic terminal in 2008, DIAL will be procuring additional Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Vehicles to maintain the best emergency response services amongst airports in India."