9 November 2004

By Mogale City Reporter

LANSERIA International has acquired a new state-of-the-art fire-fighting truck - dramatically improving safety standards at the busy airport.

The bright yellow Interceptor 900 Airport Crash Tender was unveiled to the public on Thursday 4 November at the airport, some 20 minutes from Mogale City.

"The new truck is an addition to the airport's other fire fighting trucks, but what makes it unique is its capability to handle Category Seven fire and rescue operations," says Lanseria's marketing and public relations practitioner, Lize Nel.

This means the airport's fire and rescue department will be able to handle rescue operations involving aircraft carrying as many as 300 passengers, with a romp size of 39 to 49 metres in length and five metres in width, she adds.

The locally manufactured truck, assembled on an imported chassis, cost more than R4-million. "The truck was assembled on an imported Austrian MAN chassis, but is locally manufactured and complies with required international standards," Nel says. "We wanted to produce a South African manufactured truck that complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards".

Certified to carry four crewmembers, the truck is fitted with all the latest fire fighting gadgets, such as foam-making equipment, the jaws of life, a 8 000 litre stainless steel water tank and a fire pump with a capacity of 4 700 litres per minute.

"The truck is part of the airport's commitment to ensuring that Lanseria is the safest landing destination for all our passengers," says Nel.

According to a media statement, the airport recently completed a R100-million upgrade project, including a new terminal building, with two runways and taxiways, according to a media statement.