By Alan M. Petrillo
Technology, specifically electronics technology, has made deep inroads in positively affecting the performance and utility of aerial apparatus, whether platforms or straight sticks.
And with the increased use of technology on aerials, its deployment shows many benefits for firefighters operating and using the apparatus from safety perspectives to ease of use and ease of placement of the rigs.
Aerial Ladder Movements
Dave Reichman, national sales manager for Rosenbauer, says that at Rosenbauer, “Technology is the opportunity to keep everyone safer, and a byproduct of that technology is that we can make the operation of the aerial smoother for the operator.” Reichman notes that Rosenbauer’s Smart Aerial technology is standard on all its aerials, whether platforms, straight ladders, or tractor drawn aerials (TDAs).
“Smart Aerial is a tried-and-true system that, along with our programming—especially our soft touch controls—allows us to ramp down aerial movements so there is no jerking of the aerial,” Reichman says. “Soft touch controls buffer the movements so the aerial comes to a smooth stop and won’t allow any lateral whip.” Smart Aerial control screens are located at the turntable, the outrigger control station at the rear of the truck, and in the basket if an aerial platform.
1 Rosenbauer offers either an Aerial Command Seat (shown) or an Aerial Command Pedestal where an operator can use a joystick to operate the Smart Aerial system that controls the aerial device. (Photos 1 and 2 courtesy of Rosenbauer.)
Tim Smits, senior sales manager of aerial products for Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says that technology has affected Pierce’s line of aerial products, especially its Command Zone technology that programs many operational and safety features into the system. “Any standard multiplexed vehicle that Pierce builds has an Aerial Information Center as standard,” Smits points out. “The control screen is built into the turntable, and if we’re dealing with a platform, in the basket too.”
Smits notes that as the aerial moves, the control screen’s active load chart changes to determine the various loads that can be had for various aerial angles and height, as well as for reach and water flow. “The Aerial Information Center also shows data about tip control and the aerial tip temperature, something that’s important because if there is too much heat at the tip, the operator might have to move farther away.”
Paul Christiansen, aerial sales manager for Ferrara Fire Apparatus, says Ferrara recently rolled out a new line of aerial apparatus that use a motion control electrical system to control the ladder. “It allows for better control as far as extension and elevation,” Christiansen says, “and automatically feath