New tower ladder for Chicago at O’Hare Airport

Tower Ladder 63 – AVF127

found on Facebook

thanks Danny

Tags: Chicago FD Tower Ladder 63, New tower ladder for Chicago at O'Hare Airport

This entry was posted on April 13, 2021, 8:00 PM and is filed under Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos, New Delivery. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

26 Comments (and one trackback)

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#1 by E. C. Darroll on April 17, 2021 - 7:43 PM

Any idea if this one has it’s own Purple K system like prior ones? Or did they do away with it?
#2 by Martin on April 16, 2021 - 9:59 AM

Chuck there must be a filter to highlight the top photo.
#3 by danny on April 16, 2021 - 1:26 AM

Dan, you must not know much of the Chicago Fire Dept. to make a statement insinuating its members staffing the airport old or incompetent. there are ambulances at O’Hare, the paramedic equipped truck just denotes that it is an ALS truck company of which the city operates as well as many ALS engine companies.
#4 by danny on April 16, 2021 - 1:22 AM

im sure its no different then any of the ALS engine and truck companies out in the city proper. they have a FF/PM on board to provide ALS care ahead of the arrival of an ALS ambulance. Tower 63 has its response area pretty limited to the airport and adjacent properties, unlike squad 7 and 5-1-2 which both have a response district outside of the airport grounds into the city.
#5 by Dan on April 15, 2021 - 11:43 PM

Well, Jeremy, I was just curious.
But if you must ask, my cynical side says is that this is where the CFD sends old or incompetent firefighters to finish their careers.
Kind of like that scandal at O’Hare last year, where so many firefighters were found not to be trained properly and the City has to pay over a $1,000,000 fine for that scandal.
Now, if they have a paramedic on board and are first due for medical emergencies ( they don’t have ambulances at O’Hare?) then maybe it’s a legitimate rig.
#6 by David on April 15, 2021 - 10:06 PM

Has TL63 always been paramedic equipped? I don’t recall seeing that on the previous rig.
#7 by Jeremy B. on April 15, 2021 - 7:05 PM

Atlanta FD has 2 quint towers and a TDA out at Hartfield Jackson. LAFD has Lightforce 95 with a TDA at LAX, they’re just not ARFF green. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport FD has 2 towers. Denver FD at DIA has 2 towers. MWA FD has a tower at Dulles. Massport FD at Logan in Boston has a tower. Orlando International FD has a tower.

Not really sure what your point is, because there are most definitely more examples if you look.
#8 by Chuck on April 15, 2021 - 6:45 PM

I know my eyes are gettin old, but why does it look like two different shades of yellow – polarizing filter on the top shot, or just the sunlight?
#9 by Dan on April 15, 2021 - 6:09 PM

Gee Pat, I was just asking a question. For instance, do they respond outside of O’Hare? So who is talking crap now, Pat?
But if it is true the FAA requires a ladder truck at O’Hare, why not at other major airports? Why not Las Vegas or Milwaukee or Midway or JFK or LAX?
Why is O’Hare so special?
So, who’s talking crap now, Pat?
#10 by Michael m on April 15, 2021 - 12:57 PM

Remember O-Hare has different numbers that the rest of the city. The City does not use the AVF numbers.
#11 by John Antkowski on April 15, 2021 - 11:38 AM

What shop number will it carry? Will it be under the latest aerial or last Tower put in service? Sharp looking Truck! I noticed that they don’t have a great view from inside the rig. Is something special from the FAA? Thanks for sharing the picture.
#12 by Pat on April 15, 2021 - 11:17 AM

Dan, as I am sure you are going to talk crap, TL63 as with all the rigs stationed at OHare Airport is paid for by the FAA and they decide what is required due to amount of aircrafts, amount of people and types of aircrafts going in and out of OHare. So how many fires does it go to? Not a lot since its at OHare Airport for whatever their needs are. They respond to Pin in accidents, hazmats, aircraft emergencies and of course fire related stuff in the buildings on the property. Let me guess, your volunteer department has a small airfield with cessnas and you don’t have a Tower Ladder so you think no one needs that at their airport. Let us know.
#13 by Dan on April 14, 2021 - 11:46 PM

So, how many actual fires does this ladder company respond to in a year?
#14 by harry on April 14, 2021 - 5:37 PM

does anyone know what rescue 1 23 phone number is at ohare
#15 by Aidan Hughes on April 14, 2021 - 3:52 PM

Tower 63’s platform was built especially for the airport’s needs. It is used primarily at incidents at the airport and the platform is used for people to step on to.
#16 by Mike on April 14, 2021 - 3:50 PM

The basket may not be a special build but the lip up front I believe is specific to tower 63, as they can use the basket as another means of egress for airport incidents. So it allows for a walking platform to step onto.
#17 by Chris S on April 14, 2021 - 1:02 PM

Forgot to add they went back to “Tower Co”, I know TL10 is lettered “Tower Ladder”
#18 by Chris S on April 14, 2021 - 12:58 PM

Basic city striping & lettering, unlike the 3 engines, also is that a special built “rescue bucket” similar to Pierce or something E-1 offers
#19 by Danny on April 14, 2021 - 11:27 AM

Yes this will be the fourth version of tower 63. The original was a 1988 emergency one followed by a 1996 Pierce and then a 2007 Pierce and now this brand-new emergency one and like before most likely the 1996 Pierce will head to auction sometime after this new truck is put in service
#20 by Michael m on April 14, 2021 - 11:18 AM

I am guessing this will be the 4th generation of Tower 63?
#21 by Michael m on April 14, 2021 - 11:17 AM

Sharp looking tower ladder! After 30 plus years, they will be back in a e-One!
#22 by Marty Coyne on April 14, 2021 - 8:04 AM

They seem to reuse the AVF numbers, unlike the regular CFD shop #’s. AVF-127 was a McCoy Miller ambulance back in 95′.
#23 by crabbymilton on April 14, 2021 - 6:18 AM

Looks good. Not the easiest to photograph either.
#24 by harry on April 14, 2021 - 12:13 AM

so are both pierce towers still there have now ever had the chance for photo of either so i better sooner than later
#25 by Wayne on April 13, 2021 - 11:44 PM

Tower 63 is staffed 24/7 365 with a crew of five.
#26 by Dan on April 13, 2021 - 10:23 PM

Will it be staffed or cross staffed?