Specialist aviation fire cover across the UK
Aviation Fire & Operational Support
CritiCall provides specialist aviation fire cover, Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting, helicopter support and temporary landing-site support for operators, event organisers, production teams and projects conducting planned aviation activity across the UK.
At a glance
Typical Aviation Support
Helicopter Support
Hot Refuelling
Night Operations
Temporary Heliports
Aviation Fire Cover
Bambi Bucket Support
Site Surveys
Primary capability
Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF)
CritiCall provides planned ARFF capability for helicopter movements, temporary landing sites, event heliports, aviation events, remote operations and other specialist aviation activity.
Dedicated aviation fire cover places suitable firefighting resources and personnel where they can support the aircraft movement. The arrangement considers the operating area, aircraft information supplied by the client or operator, access routes, credible emergencies and the surrounding site. It gives the aviation activity a focused fire response rather than relying on resources whose primary duty lies elsewhere.
Before flying begins, positioning, emergency access, escalation routes and fire-ground communications are made clear to the personnel involved. During the operating period, the fire crew maintains contact with the relevant operator and site team, remains ready for the planned movements and adapts to authorised changes in timing or location.
For temporary and remote activity, contingency arrangements matter as much as the visible fire appliance. CritiCall connects standby cover with access, communications and the wider emergency arrangements so the service can be briefed clearly and used effectively if required.
Temporary, remote and specialist activity
Helicopter Support
Helicopters routinely operate away from established aviation infrastructure. CritiCall provides the dedicated fire cover and ground-side coordination needed to support temporary and event heliports, remote landing sites, planned corporate movements, television and film activity, infrastructure projects and specialist operations.
The service is built around the landing area and its relationship with the wider site. CritiCall checks fire-crew access, emergency routes, resource positions and the arrangements that keep people and vehicles clear of the aircraft movement. Liaison with the operator and client team helps ensure movement information reaches those responsible for fire cover and site control.
Temporary aviation schedules can change. Weather, programme timings, project activity and access constraints can all affect the working day. CritiCall maintains a flexible fire-support presence, responding to confirmed changes without losing the clear boundaries and readiness expected around live helicopter activity.
- Temporary and event heliports
- Remote and rural landing sites
- Corporate and VIP movements
- TV, film and media activity
- Infrastructure projects
- Specialist planned operations
Fire cover during aircraft refuelling
Hot Refuelling & Fuelling Support
CritiCall can provide dedicated standby firefighting capability for helicopter hot refuelling and fuelling activity when it forms part of the aviation task. The fire crew remains positioned for the refuelling period and coordinates with the pilot, aircraft operator, fuel provider and site contact.
At temporary and remote operating locations, the arrangement addresses sterile-area control, access for firefighting resources, ignition-source awareness and the movement of people or vehicles near the fuelling area. Jet A1-related fire cover can be incorporated when applicable to the confirmed operation.
This service supports the safe continuity of flying activity by placing dedicated fire capability alongside the refuelling operation. CritiCall does not imply fuel supply: fuel provision and the conduct of refuelling remain with the appointed operator or fuel provider unless separately and explicitly confirmed.
Reduced visibility
Night Landings & Low-Light Operations
Night approaches and departures need dependable fire cover and a landing environment that remains understandable after daylight fades. CritiCall supports night helicopter operations with dedicated standby capability, practical site preparation and clear contact between the fire crew, pilot or operator and site management.
Temporary lighting considerations are reviewed alongside access routes, hazards, sterile areas and exclusion zones. Firefighting resources must remain ready without creating an obstruction or introducing unwanted light into the operating area. The result is a practical arrangement shaped around the site and the planned movements.
Radio contact provides a concise route for movement information and changes. When visibility is reduced, the team also maintains awareness of emergency access, the surrounding site and the contingencies needed if timings, landing arrangements or local conditions alter.
- Night landing fire cover
- Approach and departure standby
- Temporary-lighting considerations
- Hazards and emergency access
- Sterile areas and exclusion zones
- Pilot and site liaison
Around the landing area
Ground Operations Support
CritiCall supports the ground-side conditions needed for safe helicopter activity at temporary sites. The focus is on keeping the aviation fire function connected to the people controlling the site, the information coming from the operator and the physical area around arrivals and departures.
Sterile Areas
Maintain clear operating areas and agreed exclusion zones around aircraft activity.
Rotor Wash
Identify loose materials, public interfaces and nearby activity affected by rotor wash.
Ground Fire Cover
Keep emergency access available and maintain a dedicated response posture throughout movements.
Site Coordination
Connect movement information, operator liaison and the client team through clear contact routes.
UK wildfire aviation operations
Aerial Firefighting Helicopter Support
CritiCall can support planned UK aerial firefighting activity involving helicopters using Bambi buckets and other rotary-wing wildfire-suppression equipment. Our role centres on the aviation fire-safety and ground-support requirements around the helicopter operation.
Temporary forward operating locations can face repeated landing and departure cycles, refuelling activity, changing access and extended working periods. CritiCall can provide standby ARFF, hot-refuelling fire cover, ground-safety awareness and communications linking the aviation support function with the relevant incident command and ground crews.
Remote logistics require a service that can follow the operation as conditions and operating locations change. Fire-resource positioning, emergency access, sterile areas and hazards associated with bucket operations are considered at each site so the ground arrangement remains usable throughout the activity.
CritiCall does not operate aircraft, direct flying decisions, supply Bambi buckets or assume statutory responsibility for wildfire response.
Planned aviation activity
Aviation Fire Cover
Dedicated fire cover can be arranged for planned aviation activity at established, temporary and event-based operating sites.
CritiCall can support airports and airfields where contracted, temporary heliports, aviation events, aircraft demonstrations, helicopter movements and temporary aviation sites. Fixed-wing activity, repositioning and planned ground movements can be considered when the required capability is confirmed for the task.
The service is scaled around the operation rather than presented as a generic package. Aircraft activity, site conditions, operating periods, hazards and access inform the fire resources and personnel required. This produces a clear proposition for clients who need dedicated aviation fire cover without a permanent on-site provision.
Fire cover can stand alone or connect directly with helicopter ground support, refuelling standby, night operations and site coordination described on this page.
Typical requirements
- Temporary heliport fire cover
- Aviation-event standby
- Aircraft demonstration cover
- Helicopter movement support
- Planned ground-movement cover
- Confirmed fixed-wing requirements
A clear plan for delivery
Site Surveys & Operational Planning
A site survey turns an aviation fire requirement into an arrangement that can be briefed and delivered. CritiCall reviews landing-site suitability, hazards, access, emergency routes, cordons and sterile-area layouts in relation to the proposed activity.
The survey also considers firefighting resource placement, emergency action arrangements, communications procedures and practical contingencies. Client and operator liaison brings the relevant information together and allows the aviation fire provision to integrate with existing site or event documentation.
The outcome is deliberately useful: clear positions, responsibilities, contact routes and actions for the live task. It gives the client, operator and fire team a shared understanding of how the support will work before the first aircraft movement.
- Landing-site suitability and hazards
- Access and emergency routes
- Cordons and sterile-area layouts
- Fire-resource positioning
- Emergency action arrangements
- Communications and contingencies
Where we support
Aviation fire capability for temporary, remote and specialist operations
Temporary heliports at events
Dedicated fire cover and landing-area coordination integrated with the wider event site and its control arrangements.
Remote and rural landing sites
Fire support shaped around limited infrastructure, challenging access and the practical realities of operating away from an airfield.
Corporate and VIP movements
Planned fire cover for movements using temporary landing arrangements when this service is requested and confirmed.
TV, film and media operations
Aviation fire cover aligned with location access, production schedules, unit activity and the nominated production contact.
Construction and infrastructure
Helicopter fire and ground support connected to project logistics, access controls and existing site teams.
Aviation events
Standby provision for aircraft movements, demonstrations and temporary aviation activity within a public-event environment.
Specialist standby operations
Focused ARFF and fire cover for confirmed tasks that do not fit a permanent airport or airfield model.
Aerial firefighting helicopters
Ground-side aviation fire support for rotary-wing wildfire suppression activity, including Bambi bucket operations.
Wildfire forward operating locations
Standby ARFF, refuelling fire cover and site coordination for temporary locations supporting extended or changing operations.
From first contact to stand down
How CritiCall Delivers Aviation Support
- 01Initial discussion
- 02Site information or survey
- 03Aviation fire-cover planning
- 04Team briefing
- 05Deployment and live cover
- 06Stand-down and review
Aviation-focused capability
Why Choose CritiCall for Aviation Fire Support?
Aviation fire cover is not a standard package. Each deployment is shaped around the aircraft movement, landing environment and client objective so the fire provision integrates into the wider operation.
CritiCall focuses on the fire and ground-safety requirements that sit around planned aviation activity. The client receives a service shaped for aircraft movements, temporary sites and aviation-specific hazards rather than general event fire cover with an aviation label attached.
ARFF-focused preparation connects personnel and firefighting resources with practical access, site coordination and the operator’s movement information. Experienced operational personnel can work across temporary, remote and changing locations while maintaining a clear, professional fire-support presence.
Hot-refuelling standby, night landing cover, helicopter ground coordination and wildfire aviation support can be combined into one coherent requirement. Site surveys help establish what is needed before deployment, while flexibility allows the service to reflect the confirmed aircraft activity and operating environment.
- Specialist aviation fire capability
- ARFF-focused site preparation
- Experienced operational personnel
- Temporary and remote-site support
- Integrated fire cover and ground coordination
- Hot-refuelling, night and site-survey support
CritiCall is an independent specialist provider. Contracted support does not replace the responsibilities of an aircraft operator, aerodrome, event organiser, site controller or statutory emergency service.
Request a quote
Planning an Aviation Operation?
Share the location, aircraft type, movement schedule, operating environment and support requirement. CritiCall will work with you to define the aviation fire cover, ARFF and ground-side support needed for the task.