First in Asia: BIAL employs 14 women firefighters

Bengaluru: After employing fourteen women employees the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) has created a record by being the first such airport in Asia to have women in its Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) team.

The fourteen were selected from all across Karnataka and were trained in ARFF at Airports Authority of India‘s Kolkata-based Fire Service Training Centre (FSTC).

While training in Kolkata the women underwent rigorous ARFF training which included waking up at 6 am and practising ladder drill which involved carrying a person of more than 50 kilograms over their shoulders and climbing down a 35-foot ladder.

The Kempegowda International Airport presently has 2 ARFF stations with 265 firefighters and 25 firefighting vehicles.