Life at MAN - Oliver Kelly, Airport Firefighter

Did you know Manchester Airport has its own dedicated Fire service? Operating from two Fire Stations on the north and south side of the airfield, the team is on call 24/7 to handle emergency situations, from diverted aircraft to fire alarms in the terminals, or medical emergencies. It's a huge responsibility, and although serious incidents are thankfully very rare, the team are constantly preparing for scenarios they might face - maintaining their equipment in optimal condition and conducting a range of training exercises to test their problem-solving abilities.

Airport firefighter Oliver Kelly talks us through everything that goes into their preparation, from blue light driving to intensive fitness regimes - and explains why his cooking skills also get put to the test.

How long have you been working at Manchester Airport?

25 years now! I marked my 25th anniversary in the team on 15th May.

What does your job involve on a typical day?

My watch starts at 07:15, when my colleagues and I have a handover with the night watch and ensure our fire kit is readily available. We then have a formal watch brief, where operational and airside information is relayed to the crew. Our day then consists of testing and inspection of our equipment, cleaning and maintenance of our vehicles and putting together training schedules for our compliance training. That can be anything from aircraft fire fighting to road traffic collision training. We have a robust training schedule so each day can be very different. 

Aside from training we can be called out to respond to many incidents on our airport site. With over 1,000 call-outs last year, we are always on the move. We respond to all aircraft incidents, terminal building alarms (as well as outbuildings across the whole site), road traffic collisions and first aid emergencies. Although these are the main categories of incident we'd expect to face, we are ready to respond to any given emergency that might come up. In between all this we manage to sit down as a crew and eat a nice lunch cooked by two of the crew, feeding up to as many as 16.

Once all our routine duties are complete, we are free to work on our personal fitness in our gym. A bit of a tidy up of the station usually follows, before we welcome the night crew to take over at 19:15.

What skills and training are needed for the role?

There are many levels of skills and qualifications from basic firefighter training courses to supervisor and managerial-level courses, so it depends how far you want to progress. Blue light emergency driving and appliance-related qualifications are basic requirements for all firefighters. In terms of training, we are constantly renewing our competences in all aspects of our role within our very robust training programme, which is overseen by our training officer.

What are the differences between working for an airport Fire department and working for other Fire departments elsewhere?

I would say it's the speed and efficiency of the crews. We train to be at aircraft incidents within two to three minutes and this is where we most differ. We cover a smaller area than a regular Fire service, but we will encounter the same type of incidents, although maybe not as frequently. We do train with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service throughout the year as we adopt the same principals when approaching incidents.

What do you enjoy the most about working at the airport?

As a crew we have developed a close bond and friendship over the years. We spend a lot of time together, whether it's nights, weekends, Christmas or Easter. When we are on shift we do all this together, like a second family.  You need to have a great work ethic and good sense of humour to get us through the 12 hour shifts.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone considering a career in the Manchester Airport Fire Service?

I would say give it a go. We have an apprenticeship scheme up and running, and we are currently training the next generation to move us into the future. The airport as a whole is an exciting place to work. Driving huge fire engines airside and on the runways in emergencies is something not many people get to experience, and it's a serious responsibility but also very enjoyable.

What do you like to do when you're not at work?

I always seem to have a DIY project on at home for some reason! Apart from that, I have a dog that needs my attention, so I like walks out. Myself and Kate spend a lot of our free time in the outdoors. Countryside or coast, you'll find us there in our van, and also camping over when we can. Now our 3 children are older, we are lucky to have more time to spend doing the things we love.

 Which destination that we fly to from Manchester do you most want to visit?

It has to be Las Vegas!