Newcastle airport flies high in fire training

With diversity being the name of the game for many businesses to stay afloat these days, Newcastle International Airport is one of those that has branched out.

The airport's fire and emergency response team is primarily on hand to deal with any problems with aircraft and other airport facilities.

But they have also built a national reputation for training fire-fighting teams from all over the UK. Now they are going international.

Newcastle airport is one of only four in the country which is able to provide this service.

The team also has the facilities to train firefighters in working incidents as diverse as helicopter blazes aboard oil rigs and fires on luxury yachts.

A team has even been sent to Cameroon to train firefighters there.

The Newcastle team is helping to keep airports in the UK among the safest in the world.

Steve Armstrong, Newcastle airport fire service manager