Where I agree that GA does not need the same ARFF response as the heavies, the idea of Just a 100,000 fire truck is almost a footnote in history. True Airfield apparatus are generally specked with 4×4 capabilities, foam inductors, pump and roll response.

In the past four years my fire department has purchased two pieces of equipment, neither of which have these capabilities. Our ladder truck went for 750,000. Today it would cost well over a million dollars, and our new rescue truck is costing over half a million.

The true cost of a fire response budget is manpower. In this regard the aircraft industry actually gets a deal. Where structural fire companies generally staff between three and five fire fighters the Aircraft industry Only staff’s one or two.

I agree with your argument that user fee’s should not be placed upon GA, your crash rescue analogy is a little light.

Thanks

John

That was the most succinct counter to the “a blip is a blip” argument that commercial aviation has been using that I have come across.

You can bet I’ll be sharing.

Thanks!