“Hot Fire” staff training ensures lifeline air service to the isles

Everyone involved in the Council’s airfields operation to the Outer North Isles has a vital role to play in ensuring a safe and reliable service for the island communities.  

The team play a crucial part in the continuation of the life-line service to the Outer North Isles communities. From the Council based Airfield Superintendent and Airfields Officer, to the six isles Airfield Co-ordinators, Depute Co-ordinators and Airfield Attendants – there would be no air service to the six island communities of Eday, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, and Westray without a dedicated and skilled team. 

The Council’s Service Manager for Transportation, Laura Cromarty, wanted to see for herself some of the rigorous and ongoing “Hot Fire” training that the airfield teams have to undertake as part of their role. 

Since 2018, staff have been able to do this essential firefighting training at Kirkwall Airport thanks to a “Hot Fire” training facility opened by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, in partnership with Highlands & Islands Airport Ltd. 

Laura said: “I was out at Kirkwall Airport to observe some of our airfields team undergoing hot fire training which they currently complete twice per annum. We have a small yet dedicated airfields team in each of the Outer North Isles, meeting the arrival and departure of scheduled and emergency flights for the community. Quite simply, without them, there would be no air service to the isles. 

“They are committed to their communities, and we are clearly fully committed to them." 

Helping ensure the teams are supported, trained and equipped to keep their communities running and safe are Airfields Superintendent, Sym Grayson, and Airfields Officer, David Hamilton. 

David came to the part-time role in 2022 with 17 years’ experience in the Fire Service at Kirkwall Airport as a crew manager and breathing apparatus instructor. 

David is responsible for the rollout of training to the Airfield Co-ordinators and Airfield Attendants, which includes Hot Fire Training, currently undertaken twice per year for each team member. 

Laura added: “Since David’s appointment, the firefighters at Kirkwall Airport have noted an improvement in the performance of the North Isles airfields team during training exercises.” 

David supports Sym Grayson to ensure a safe and efficient airfields operation to our Outer North Isles whilst Sym has responsibility for safety management, risk assessments and ensuring compliance with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) standards. 

“Sym and David are key to supporting our Airfield Co-ordinators and Attendants to carry out their vital role – without them all we simply would not be able to operate the air service that we do,” Laura continued. 

“The dedicated team meet the arrival and departure of all inter-island flights as well as ensuring a service for any ambulance flights which can be at short notice and at any time of the day or night, therefore providing a crucial role within a small community.” 

“With the job comes lots of opportunities to learn new skills, while playing a significant role within the community and keeping the flights moving – vital for residents, holidaymakers, businesses and visiting teachers to the school. 

“A quick and reliable service is an important part of sustaining a healthy population on any of our islands. Our thanks go to the Kirkwall Airport crew for their continued assistance in our training programme and general support.” 

For the past 27 years, Malcolm Lennie has worked at the airfield on Sanday – a role previously held by his father, James, for some 50 years! 

Under the guidance of his dad, Malcolm began work as an airfield attendant at the age of 18 – a job that he continues to work in around commitments on the family farm. 

“When my dad retired from the Airfield Co-ordinator job in 2017, I took over in that role. We have a pool of eight folk to call on at the moment at the airfield but in the summer months when folk are looking to get away, it can be tricky to sort out the rota to make sure there’s always cover – so really the more relief airfield staff you can have the better.” 

Malcolm recently took part in the Hot Fire training. “The facilities at Kirkwall Airport are great – everything is safe, clean, there’s no trip hazards and they look after us well. It’s good to meet some of the other isles airfield staff as well.” 

The staff are kitted out in the relevant safety gear and faced with a plane fire scenario. They work together to fight the fire from an appliance on site that is a replica of their own. 

“There can be flames shooting out from the wheels or the engine – it gets pretty hot and is certainly a reminder to make sure your visor is down! We don’t ever want to have to put our training into practice in real life, but having the training means you are ready for if it is ever needed.” 

Malcolm would encourage others to get on board and consider a relief role. 

“It’s good for the community keeping the crucial air services going. It is rewarding and I enjoy working with the public. It can fit in with other jobs that folk may have which is very normal for folk living in the isles.” 

Sym said it can be particularly challenging to find new recruits for the smaller islands, such as Papay and North Ronaldsay given their very small populations. 

He added: “As work and personal circumstances change and people retire, we want to build resilience within the wider team, so anyone interested in learning more about these relief roles on any of the isles, should get in touch with myself at symeon.grayson@orkney.gov.uk or call 01856 873535.”