Posts Tagged Chicago-Rockford International Airport

Fatal plane crash in Rockford, 8-20-20

Excerpts from rrstar.com:

One person has died after a twin-engine airplane crashed Thursday while attempting a takeoff at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. There was only one person aboard the Beechcraft Super King Air, which burned after impact. The flames were extinguished within about 10 minutes by Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Services crews.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, which happened about 3:40 p.m. shortly after the plane left the runway. The FAA said it will release the aircraft’s tail number after investigators verify it at the crash site.

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As seen around … the Chicago Rockford International Airport

This from Asher Heimermann:

Chicago Rockford International Airport contracts with Pro-Tec Fire Services of Green Bay for ARFF services.

 

Oshkosh Striker 6x6

Asher Heimermann photo

Oshkosh TI3000 ARFF with Snozzle

Asher Heimermann photo

Oshkosh ARFF trucks

Asher Heimermann photo

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Rockford airport ousts city firefighters

WREX TV in Rockford has an article about the Rockford Airport board outsourcing the jobs of firefighters instead of renewing a contract with the City of Rockford Fire Department.

Chicago-Rockford International Airport board members vote unanimously to outsource on-field fire protection at RFD.

“I think the City got a little greedy perhaps about what they were charging us.” -says airport Executive Director Mike Dunn.

The city’s charge was about $1.2 million a year. RFD’s total budget for the year is $8 million. The company airport administrators picked is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin and should cost RFD around $600,000 a year. The airport’s executive director says service and safety won’t suffer.

“We own the building. We own the trucks. We own the equipment that firefighters use. We paid for the education. All the city was providing us was the manpower.” -Dunn explains.

Rockford Fire Department Fire Chief Derek Bergsten says, “It would have been nice to kind of sit down, have those discussions, find out what the issue was, if there was something we could do to remedy it. As firefighters it’s our instinct to try and solve problems, work out solutions, so, that’s probably the only part on my side that I would have liked to have the opportunity for that.”

Chief Bergsten says he learned less than two days ago the airport planned to terminate its contract with the city.

 

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