Bristol Airport has opened a £950,000 fire-fighting training facility to help it maintain its position as having one of the UK’s best-performing airport fire teams.
The state-of-the-art facility will enable the airport’s dedicated Rescue and Fire-Fighting Service (RFFS) to simulate a range of emergencies involving a Boeing 737, an R27 helicopter and a small building.
The aircraft, building and equipment making up the complex can be controlled and monitored remotely and used individually or combined, giving RFFS staff training to face any fire and rescue situation. 
It also enables the RFFS team to maintain the high levels of competence and aviation training required by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Airport chief fire officer Gary O’Neill said: “This is a significant investment by Bristol Airport and demonstrates our continued commitment to safety and ongoing investment in employee training.
“This facility means a great deal to the RFFS team as it ensures we have the best available facilities to train with. It will also, in the longer term, host training in partnership with other local emergency services to help maintain our position as one of the best performing airport fire services in the country”.
The airport commissioned Burton-upon-Trent specialist fire training company Simulation to design the facility, which has been built in the dedicated fire training ground on the south side of the airport site.
It follows the recently-opened central walkway completed ahead of the busy summer holiday period to meet passenger and airline demand.
Construction has also started of the £8.6m project eastern terminal extension – the first major expansion of the building since it opened in 2000. The extension will be finished next summer.
