Safety

Airports have their own crews to handle fire and emergency medical services (EMS). An airport may have several fire/EMS stations on the ground because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that emergency crews be able to reach the midpoint of a runway within 3 to 5 minutes. The crews are usually employees of the city or municipality and are stationed at the airport.

Airports also have their own police crews. Some airport police are members of the city or municipality assigned to the airport, while others are from private security companies contracted to patrol the airport grounds (such as the perimeter fences that limit access to the airfield) and to operate the security inspection points within the terminals (read How Airport Security Works to learn more). Finally, airports must have crews for collecting and disposing trash, keeping terminals clean (some janitorial services are run by airlines or airline cooperatives) and keeping runways clear during foul weather.

Photos courtesy Denver International Airport Snow-removal crews keep runways open.

Without snow-removal crews, aircraft would be grounded whenever a storm hit.