Recruitment at Airservices – Aviation Rescue Firefighter

Hi, I’m Paul, leading firefighter at Airservices Aviation Rescue Firefighting Service at Sydney Airport. I’ve been a firefighter here in Sydney for about five years now. I first heard about their services when I was in the Army, looking to change careers. A friend of mine told me about the firefighting service they have here at the airport. I looked into it, and applied to become an aviation firefighter pretty much the next day.

I went on an 8 week training course in Brisbane at the time, which has now moved down to Melbourne, and it’s an 11 week course. I like Sydney, because it’s always busy. Every day is different. Always different turn outs, and different sort of training.

Yeah, in the event that there is an aircraft emergency, we’re responsible to make a turning point in the airport in two minutes, with no more than three minutes.

The reason that we’re positioned on the airport and so close to the runways, is because in the event of an aircraft emergency, we need to be on scene almost straight away. There is a real emphasis on being a rapid response.

While most of the aviation incidents we attend are relatively minor, but they have a potential to be a major hazard, and we’re here as a precaution, and quite often the pilots will have us on standby, just in case something does go wrong.

One of the particular things I like about being in the aviation rescue firefighting, is the fact that we have to stay fit. You have to have a good level of fitness to join the job in the first place. I’ve always enjoyed working in a team environment, and here is probably the best team environment I’ve worked in. Everyone is your best friend, as well as your colleague. Quite often, you’ll catch up the guys down shift outside of work as well. It’s just a really good environment to work in.

Behind me is the latest bit of equipment that we’ve got in the AAF. It’s the Mark 8, ultra large fire vehicle. It has two monitors. It holds about 9,000 liters of water. It’s six wheel, all-terrain, and it takes all our equipment with us to the job. It’s got numerous hand lines, breathing apparatus, all the equipment that you’d need in the event of a plane crash.

This is the main control for our main roof monitor, and this is the controls for our bumper monitor and forward looking infrared. This is our control unit for our lights and sirens, and these are our controls for our radios. We’ve got the UHF radio that we operate on, and the VHF radio that is our communications with tower.

This is our fire control center, where we’re able to watch every takeoff and landing on the airport. Here, we also got the ability to control the alert systems for the stations. From here we can respond trucks to various incidents. Attention, attention, 1029, turnout to a first aid. Terminal one, bay 10, to a possible heart attack. Attention, attention, 1029, turnout to terminal one, bay 10, for a possible heart attack.

Yeah, I definitely recommend this job for anyone who’s looking for an exciting and interesting career. Every day is different. It’s a great physical job.

I thoroughly enjoyed working here for the past five years, and I’ll be working here for many more. For anyone who’s interested in a challenging and rewarding job, I’d definitely recommend applying to Airservices

How to Prepare for a Career in Aviation Rescue Firefighting

1. Understand the Unique Demands of the Role

Unlike urban fire services, aviation firefighters must meet strict response time benchmarks—usually within three minutes or less from callout to being on-scene. This means you’ll always need to be physically and mentally ready.

You’re not just responding to potential aircraft emergencies. You’ll also be expected to assist with medical incidents, fire prevention inspections, and daily equipment checks—often while under the eye of air traffic control.

2. Prepare for the ARFF Recruitment Process

Airservices Australia conducts its recruitment process, which includes:

• An online application
• Aptitude and psychometric testing
• A physical aptitude test (based on real job demands)
• A structured interview
• Medical assessments
  

Fire Recruitment Australia can help you prepare at each stage, especially with simulated aptitude tests and coaching that mirrors the Airservices selection style. Most applicants struggle with psychometric and fitness benchmarks—not because they’re unfit, but because they’re unfamiliar with the required standard.

3. Develop Your Physical Fitness Early

Firefighting in aviation is highly physical. You’ll need to meet aerobic and strength benchmarks (including ladder carries, hose drags, and casualty retrievals). Don’t wait until recruitment opens—start your training early.

At Fire Recruitment Australia, we support our members with training plans explicitly built for ARFF testing standards.

4. Learn from People in the Job

One of the best ways to succeed is to hear directly from those already in the role, just like Paul, whose experience at Sydney Airport gives a realistic view of the job’s demands and rewards.

We often connect our members with past applicants who’ve succeeded in landing positions with Airservices so that you can get practical insights you won’t find on government websites.

5. Focus on Mindset and Consistency

This is not a job you can ‘wing’. It requires focus, structure, and the ability to perform under pressure. The best applicants aren’t always the fittest or most experienced—they’re the ones who’ve prepared strategically and consistently from day one.

That’s precisely what Fire Recruitment Australia is here to help with. Learn everything you need to know about how to become a firefighter in Australia − book a call to learn more today!