Indianapolis, Indiana - March/April 2006
The Indianapolis International Airport opened in 1931. Today, the airport encompasses nearly 8,000 acres in three counties, offers more than 673,000 square feet of terminal space, features 33 gates, and hosts 10 major and 19 national passenger airlines. In 2005, the airport served a record 8.5 million passengers.

The Indianapolis Airport Authority, whose members are appointed by the mayor of Indianapolis and officials in Marion and Hendricks counties, owns, develops, and operates the airport along with five other "reliever" locations in the Indianapolis area. In 1995, the authority hired BAA Indianapolis to manage Indianapolis International Airport and the reliever facilities. The Indianapolis airport is now the largest privately managed airport in the country.

Fire Department Members Have Lots in Common
Serving the airport emergency needs is the Indianapolis Airport Fire Department led by Fire Chief Rick Gentry. The department also runs the airport communications center. Gentry, chief since 1998, notes that many of his members joined the department due to a love for both aviation and the military. Over 90 percent of his personnel are former military members. Chief Gentry is a former Air Force member where he honed his firefighting skills from 1976 to 1980. He has been a member of the airport fire department since 1980.

Training Exceeds the Norm
Training has received a high priority in the department under Gentry. In 2005, the department racked up nearly 6,000 hours of training for its 39 sworn personnel. Additionally, the department trains with the Chicago Fire Department on FAA regulated training and several personnel are responsible for code enforcement at the reliever airports.

Green Hornet Provides a Boost
One of the most critical training requirements for the airport firefighters is the need to get to the runways within a specific amount of time to deal with emergencies. To maintain their FAA certification, firefighters are required to arise from a dead sleep and be at the mid-point of an 11,000 foot runway fighting fire within 3 minutes. This is a procedure they are tested on every year. To assist with their speed, the department has a very unique crash truck, fondly known as the Green Hornet. Almost space age in design, it is one of the most unique and advanced pieces of equipment for airport firefighting in the country. It was featured on the Discovery Channel in 2005.

Department is Growing
One of the department's biggest goals for 2006 is to oversee the development of its second fire station. Their current station is 35 years old and has served the department well, but firefighters are looking forward to the opportunity to spread out and expand their resources. The department's medical evaluation program has also been receiving plenty of attention. Since the department is not part of the Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF), its personnel tend to stay on the force longer. Therefore, medical evaluations and health education have become a greater focus. Time management issues require the exams to be given at the fire station. The department follows NFPA 1582 for its physicals and has implemented nutrition programs, including cooking schools, to help its personnel develop healthier cooking and eating habits. The effort has paid off. The chief has observed his personnel making better dietary choices, losing weight, and even having risky medical conditions identified early on and treated. One of his firefighters recently stated, "I'm so glad we have this program, because I'd rather know of any medical problems while I can get help." Chief Gentry agrees. "A healthy department is important," he asserts.

Click here for the Airport Fire Department newsletter article.

For more information on the Indianapolis Intl. Airport, visit online by clicking here.

© 2006 Public Safety Medical Services