Pilots are worried about an alleged decline in emergency aviation resources.

The Australian International Pilots Association (AIPA) has raised concerns about a reduction in emergency aviation resources, particularly firefighters at Australian airports, in the post-pandemic period. 

Airservices Australia, the federal agency responsible for airport safety, disputes these claims, asserting that all major airports remain protected according to required standards, except Cairns Airport, where flooding has impacted firefighting capacity.

Captain Mark Hofmeyer, a veteran Qantas pilot and vice president of AIPA, says an increase in Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) indicates reduced aviation rescue and firefighting services (ARFFS) at airports. 

“There's definitely been an increase in the number of times we see that the rescue firefighting service has been reduced,” he has told the ABC.

These firefighting services are crucial for responding to emergencies. Hofmeyer warned that any reduction in staff could have significant consequences. 

Firefighting resources are allocated based on the size of the aircraft and passenger numbers. 

Airports handling large aircraft like the Airbus A380 should operate at category 10, requiring at least 14 firefighters and three fire vehicles. Smaller airports may operate at category six. International standards permit airports to operate one category below their designated level temporarily, known as the remission factor, regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The remission factor, combined with staff shortages, has led to ARFFS operating below acceptable standards, pilots say. 

Government regulator Airservices Australia disputes claims of reduced ARFFS resources. 

It says it has not reduced ARFF services at major airports with the exception of Cairns, where flooding from Cyclone Jasper disrupted operation.

The upcoming release of the federal government's aviation white paper is anticipated to address these safety concerns. 

The white paper, part of the 2022–23 budget, aims to ensure the sector's safety and efficiency up to 2050. 

The United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA) has made eight recommendations, including a review of the remission factor, which it deems a serious safety issue.