Aircraft Rescue Training

FESTI is based at Canada’s largest airport, so we have an extensive understanding of what it takes to manage aircraft incidents. Our instructors pull from modern events and actual experiences to provide real-world context throughout our courses. Our students can also expect daily interactions with and instruction from Toronto Pearson Airport’s own firefighters who routinely manage these situations. FESTI also uses ARFF apparatus and tools during training events – again providing a real-world experience for our participants.

As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on our 2024 training season that was cut short as we started construction on our training area. Throughout the 2024 season, we asked for your continued support and flexibility as we attempted to complete all requested training. Your adaptability was exceptional, and we completed night training and expedited your recertification dates in order to complete your training prior to our shutdown. A big Thank You to all of you for your support and flexibility.

As we look toward the future we are ecstatic with the progress on our training area upgrades. The original large and small mockups have been removed from their pillars and groundwork is well underway.

‘Out with the old and in with the new.’

As fall continued, construction crews were busy with excavating soil, installing new water, drainage, electrical and propane lines. Once the underground utilities were taken care of, the foundations for the new mock-ups were poured and the ground was prepped for a liner.

With backfill complete, crews will work throughout January to finish installing the stub ups and prepare for the pouring of the new cement pad that will surround the mock-up. Throughout the build process, we have taken three trips thus far to the manufacturers to check on the progress of the builds.

On September 10th the large mock-up was removed ‘Out with the old and in with the new.’

Here are some photos of the large APS

5,000 sq ft fire

The large APS will be surrounded by 12 pans all individually controlled. Each pan contains several safety features to ensure student safety while we are training.

A new control tower has been modified and installed onsite. It’s not only equipped with state-of-the-art control systems, gas sensor indicators and 360-degree site cameras, it also has a viewing platform so everyone has a great vantage point.

FESTI is delighted to announce that the Greater Toronto Airport Authority has invested in two cutting edge aircraft fire simulators. These state-of-the-art mockups will be installed and commissioned for the beginning of the 2025 season. With enhanced interior search and rescue capabilities, and a wide range of interior fuselage and exterior fire options, passenger areas, a dedicated cargo section, and fuel spill simulation, these props will provide unprecedented challenges for your teams. Construction of these mockups will commence on August 1, 2024. Consequently, FESTI will have a shorter ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Firefighting) season in 2024, but we will return with a more robust world-class training experience in 2025 and beyond.

Beyond the Props: Elevating Training to New Heights

Along with our new props, the FESTI team will continue to refine our programs to deliver the best real-world experience possible. We are dedicated to staying at the forefront of our industry by continually enhancing our training tools. We will incorporate the latest response techniques and address the most pressing issues in our industry. Our commitment extends to expanding our ARFF program to include more airport structural firefighting, machine rescue, and mass casualty incident response. This ensures that we provide the best possible training experience, tailored to the evolving needs of our industry.

ARFF Conference

Please stop by our booth at the ARFF Working Group conference this fall. This is an excellent opportunity to get more detailed information about our exciting 2025 ARFF season and to contribute your valuable insights and feedback. Your participation is highly valued and will help us shape the future of our training programs.