TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TOOL USE
Although there is a use for almost every type of tool during aircraft extrication, the bulk of the work will be done with power tools. Hydraulic spreaders, cutters, rams, air bags, and circular rescue saws are most effective. No one tool will do everything. Successful aircraft rescue operations require well-planned and coordinated creative use of a wide variety of tools and equipment.
An axe can be used to make a hole in the exterior skin between the structural members of a modern jet aircraft. A heavy aircraft crash axe with a metal handle and rubber grip produces the best results. A flathead axe used in conjunction with a sledge hammer also is effective. Hand tools are essential in the aircraft environment and should not be discounted; they can, for example, be used to work on openings made by other power tools.
A circular rescue saw provides a very clean and rapid opening. Many fire departments avoid using this tool because of an incident that burned several firefighters when sparks from the tool ignited flammable fuel vapors. It is, however, too valuable a tool to discard. The key is to provide a safe environment for its use. Monitor and maintain an adequate foam blanket —reapply foam regularly with backup foam hoselines that are ready and positioned in safe locations.
The 14-inch composite abrasive wheel blade commonly used by fire departments is not appropriate for aircraft extrication. Because the fuselage is rounded, the angle of the cut is constantly changing, and this type of blade often gets pinched, chips, and wears down quickly. The standard 14-inch blade does not cut deeply enough to penetrate the aircraft’s exterior skin and structural members, and usually it is not possible to enter the aircraft and finish the cut from the inside. We recommend using 16and 17-inch wheels on circular rescue saws. A diamond-tipped wheel currently is the best blade available for this work, as it provides extended use with very little wear. Cutting plastic or plexiglass usually heats the saws and softens the material, slowing the cutting process significantly.
Spreaders, in a closed position, can be punched through the aircraft skin between the structural members. As the jaws are opened, they rip or tear—more than cut—the skin. Two separate parallel tears can be made approximately 12 to 18 inches apart and then connected on each end to make a square opening. The aluminum skin usually is very brittle, and pieces of sharp metal will be projected in all directions during the tearing operation. Sometimes the aircraft skin will roll up ahead of the spreading tips. Once die spreaders have removed a section of the skin, the hydraulic cutters will yield the best results with the formers, longerons, and other structural members. Many hydraulic tools tend to be heavy and may need to be operated by two rescue personnel.
Carbide-tipped chain saws can lieused to cut both skin and structural members. Chain saws, however, arc not designed for diis use; they present some obvious safety considerations and are not recommended for most aircraft forcible entry applications at this time. With certain modifications and design changes, chain saws someday may be an effective aircraft forcible entry tool.
Pneumatic (air) chisels or hammers can be used on nonreinforced sections of the aircraft skin. Some of the smaller tools have difficulty cutting thicker skin sections or structural members. Most, however, perform adequately on plexiglass windows. One of the advantages of the air hammer is its light weight, making it one of the few power tools that can be safely operated front a ladder.
Often overlooked because of the ignition hazard, the cutting torch is an excellent forcible entry tool for aircraft. As explained earlier, modern aircraft are constructed primarily of aluminum alloys, which melt at 1,200°F. Under extremely controlled conditions, cutting torches can cut rapidly and easily through the largest and strongest aircraft structural members. Obviously no flammable vapors can be present in the work area, and combustibles on both sides of the cut should be soaked with foam and monitored regularly.
Drills and penetrating nozzles areeffective on nonreinforced fuselageareas. They are excellent tools for controlling burning aircraft materials in hard-to-reach areas such as cargo compartments.
Even with the fuselage resting on the ground, a large aircraft rescueoperation may require firefighters to work in elevated positions. Heavy power tools cannot safely or easily be operated from ladders or when held above the operator’s chest Saws especially can buck back dangerously when operated at awkward angles. Our tests show that holding power tools at waist level provides the highest degree of control, comfort, safety, and ease of operation, fn your preplan, include the use of equipment that provides varying degrees of elevation for power-tool operations—such as flatbed or scissor-lift trucks, scaffolding, and forklifts. Always provide a safe footing and clear area in which to work.
