ATW ARFF Training Center

Located at the Fox Valley Technical College - Public Safety Training Center

The ATW ARFF Training Center is the nation’s premier center for aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) training. The center is located at Fox Valley Technical College’s Public Safety Training Center (PSTC), adjacent to the Appleton International Airport (ATW).

The world-class training field at the ATW ARFF Training Center includes a one-of-a-kind Boeing 777 Specialized Aircraft Fire Trainer (B777 SAFT) and Cessna Skyhawk training prop. They are set on a spill-fire area of 96 individually-controlled fire zones, which is the largest in the training industry. The props are designed for realistic emergency aircraft fire and rescue response with multiple scenarios to teach respondents the proper approach and attack techniques. Find more facility and SAFT details below.

The ATW ARFF Training Center is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). Accreditation guarantees the certification programs were reviewed by fire service professionals to meet national and international standards.

Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) Training

ATW ARFF Training Center

W6402 Pathfinder Dr. | Appleton, WI 54914
920-560-1610

Building Hours:
Open only for degree program and specialized training classes. Please call for additional needs.
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Directions to ATW ARFF Training Center

From Highway 41, take exit 136 and head West on W. Prospect Ave.
Travel 2.6 miles and turn right onto Ares Dr.
As Ares Dr. curves to the left, turn right onto Archer Dr. then turn right onto Pathfinder Dr.
ATW ARFF Training Center will be on your left

Map/Driving Directions

About Fox Valley Tech Public Safety Training Center (PSTC)

Located adjacent to Appleton International Airport in Appleton, Wisconsin, the Center combines classroom training with hands-on practice in a real-world setting. The PSTC is used to train tactics, investigation, fire fighting, technical rescue, pursuit, air disasters, and much more. No other fully integrated training facility exists in the Midwest and only a handful of other facilities meet even a portion of the combined training needs that this facility offers.

ATW ARFF Training Center Features

Building

ARFF Vehicle - Striker

Fire Trainer - Boeing 777 Saft

Fire Trainer - Cessna Skyhawk

Building (8,975 sq. ft.):

2 training rooms – one in the office area and one in the garage area
Garage with 2 large bay areas
Parking with 39 standard stalls and 2 handicap stalls

The Control Room is on the second floor of the ARFF training center. It overlooks the wet deck and B777 SAFT. One large monitor provides a graphical representation of the wet deck burn area, as well as the exterior and interior burn areas of the SAFT. Various fire simulation scenarios and burn zones can be selected and controlled from the monitor with system software, which includes a log-on security system and provides daily readiness checks. The emergency shut-down is also located in the control room. A hand-controlled, manual override system is available for instructors to control the fire systems, as well as the longevity and re-ignition of various fires. The software can also run diagnostic programs to check computer system operation and peripheral equipment. It also provides training reports and logs of:

Trainer activity
Each training session (including date and time)
Burn time
Agent application time
Smoke duration time (if applicable)
Crews trained per session

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ARFF Striker:

2019 Oshkosh Global Striker
High-rise extendable turret with piercing nozzle
High-volume, low-attack bumper turret
3000 gallons of water

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B777 SAFT internal fires:

Cockpit console fire
Forward, mid and rear cabin seat fire with flashover capability
Forward and mid cabin galley fire
Forward lavatory fire
Forward and rear overhead bin fire and cargo fire

B777 SAFT external fires:

Landing gear fires
Wing engine fires
Cargo compartment fires

Drive-on wet deck (19,140 sq. ft.):

96 burn zones (grids)
Controlled drainage to detention ponds
Infrared cameras for wet deck flame control and monitoring
360 degree access to SAFT

Other B777 features:

Piercing panels at various locations and heights
Actual B777 doors
Airbus A380 door
Broken wing on one side
Smoke generation equipment inside

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The Cessna Skyhawk Specialized Aircraft Fire Trainer (SAFT) has four fixed seats in the cabin (two in the front row and two in a back row). The cockpit has a pilot’s control console similar in appearance to the Cessna control console.

Cessna SAFT fire simulations available:

Landing Gear Fire
Engine/Propeller Fire
Cockpit/Cabin Fire

The live fire training system is designed to provide safe and effective training of piston plane fires. The Cessna SAFT includes a piston engine Cessna Skyhawk mock-up with separately controlled fires in the engine, cockpit, and landing gear. All equipment for operation utilizes vapor propane for pilot flames and main flames.

The engine fire represents a fire in the engine compartment of the Cessna mockup such as caused by a fuel leak around the engine block. The hood is designed to remain safely in the open position.
The landing gear fire provides fire resulting from overheating of brakes and represents burning material in the landing gear. The fire engulfs the wheels.

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