JEDDAH: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, signed an SR498 million deal to modernize firefighting systems at the Kingdom’s 27 airports, a statement issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Tuesday.
Austria’s Rosenbauer Group, a world leader in the production of special vehicles for airports and industry, won the contract. Rosenbauer is active in 100 countries. Prince Sultan highlighted the importance of the contract and said, “It’s an important step toward achieving the objectives of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, which seeks to ensure a high-level of security and safety at our airports.”
Abdullah Al-Ruhaimy, president of GACA, said the signing of the deal reflected Prince Sultan’s keenness toward ensuring safety and security of passengers and planes at Saudi airports.
He said Rosenbauer would provide advanced equipment to modernize firefighting and rescue stations at the Kingdom’s airports.
“The contract will help improve the efficiency and performance of firefighting systems in our airports,” he added.
Al-Ruhaimy said the new firefighting systems and equipment comply with international civil aviation standards.
Manfred Schwetz, a member of Rosenbauer’s executive board, signed the five-year contract for his company. The Austrian group will supply 220 firefighting and rescue vehicles. The contract is the biggest single order in Rosenbauer’s history.
Firefighting units will include 62 Panther air crash tenders, 28 tank fire units, 60 aluminum technology rescue and firefighting vehicles, 48 mini-pumpers and command vehicles, six hydraulic aerial apparatus and 16 rescue ambulances.
