Electronic control of aerial devices has been around for several years, and manufacturers have been offering it on many of their products. Yet, there are some departments that still choose manual controls on their aerial rigs. But, aerial makers say that the greater percentage of aerials coming off the production lines today are using electronic aerial controls.

Brett Monahan, aerial specialist for Rosenbauer, says the company has been using its Smart Aerial electronic system to control its aerial ladders and platforms for the past 15 years. “The system uses the sensors that are on the aerials to know where the ladder is located in terms of elevation, extension, and rotation,” Monahan points out. “What we added to the system was removing the limit switch on the outriggers that often clogged with grit and debris and replacing it with a potentiometer that tells the system where the outrigger is located and how far the aerial can go on that side of the truck.”

Monahan points out that the Smart Aerial system controls many other functions on the aerial vehicle, including water flow through the aerial, collision protection that prevents the aerial from striking the truck, and auto bedding of the aerial. “Our advanced controller area network (CAN) electronic system prevents the aerial from damaging the cab and body as well as any additional items protruding off of it, like lights, air conditioners, and hose reels,” he says. The auto bedding function kicks in when the aerial is within 20% fully retracted and less than 20% elevated and rotated.

1 The Rosenbauer Smart Aerial electronic system controls an array of functions on the vehicle. (Photo 1 courtesy of Rosenbauer.)

Rosenbauer also offers a wireless remote that both transmits and receives information, giving the operator continuous readings on key aerial functions. The screen gives the operator a 360-degree view, is highly visible even in bright sunlight, and has backlighting for nighttime operations, Monahan says. The operator can stand up to 500 feet away from the truck and take full command of the rig to set the outriggers; hoist the aerial; and retract, rotate, elevate, and manage the load, he adds.

2 The vast majority of E-ONE’s aerial ladders and platforms are outfitted with its electronic Advanced Aerial Control System. (Photo 2 courtesy of E-ONE.)

Justin Rice, aerial sales manager for E-ONE, says the company uses either its Advanced Aerial Control System (AACS) on its aerial ladders and platforms or, if requested by the fire department, manual controls. “The vast majority of our aerial devices use AACS,” Rice points out. “This system allows the microprocessor to control the aerial better than manual controls and is also a little more forgiving with operators who are not long-time experienced.”

 

Rice notes that E-ONE’s AACS features electric/hydraulic controls, which allow smooth operation of the aerial from the tip to the pump panel. He says the system’s Deluxe AACS features a full-color aerial information display and wireless aerial and outrigger controls. “Body protection and cradle assist are standard,” Rice says, “as well as a feature that allows the operator to select from one of three ramp settings (W ^, and % seconds) as well as a selection of upgrades.”

Chris Breaker, senior sales manager for aerial and electrification products at Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says the electronics that Pierce uses to control it

Electronic control of aerial devices has been around for several years, and manufacturers have been offering it on many of their products. Yet, there are some departments that still choose manual controls on their aerial rigs. But, aerial makers say that the greater percentage of aerials coming off the production lines today are using electronic aerial controls.

Brett Monahan, aerial specialist for Rosenbauer, says the company has been using its Smart Aerial electronic system to control its aerial ladders and platforms for the past 15 years. “The system uses the sensors that are on the aerials to know where the ladder is located in terms of elevation, extension, and rotation,” Monahan points out. “What we added to the system was removing the limit switch on the outriggers that often clogged with grit and debris and replacing it with a potentiometer that tells the system where the outrigger is located and how far the aerial can go on that side of the truck.”

Monahan points out that the Smart Aerial system controls many other functions on the aerial vehicle, including water flow through the aerial, collision protection that prevents the aerial from striking the truck, and auto bedding of the aerial. “Our advanced controller area network (CAN) electronic system prevents the aerial from damaging the cab and body as well as any additional items protruding off of it, like lights, air conditioners, and hose reels,” he says. The auto bedding function kicks in when the aerial is within 20% fully retracted and less than 20% elevated and rotated.

1 The Rosenbauer Smart Aerial electronic system controls an array of functions on the vehicle. (Photo 1 courtesy of Rosenbauer.)

Rosenbauer also offers a wireless remote that both transmits and receives information, giving the operator continuous readings on key aerial functions. The screen gives the operator a 360-degree view, is highly visible even in bright sunlight, and has backlighting for nighttime operations, Monahan says. The operator can stand up to 500 feet away from the truck and take full command of the rig to set the outriggers; hoist the aerial; and retract, rotate, elevate, and manage the load, he adds.

2 The vast majority of E-ONE’s aerial ladders and platforms are outfitted with its electronic Advanced Aerial Control System. (Photo 2 courtesy of E-ONE.)

Justin Rice, aerial sales manager for E-ONE, says the company uses either its Advanced Aerial Control System (AACS) on its aerial ladders and platforms or, if requested by the fire department, manual controls. “The vast majority of our aerial devices use AACS,” Rice points out. “This system allows the microprocessor to control the aerial better than manual controls and is also a little more forgiving with operators who are not long-time experienced.”

 

Rice notes that E-ONE’s AACS features electric/hydraulic controls, which allow smooth operation of the aerial from the tip to the pump panel. He says the system’s Deluxe AACS features a full-color aerial information display and wireless aerial and outrigger controls. “Body protection and cradle assist are standard,” Rice says, “as well as a feature that allows the operator to select from one of three ramp settings (W ^, and % seconds) as well as a selection of upgrades.”

Chris Breaker, senior sales manager for aerial and electrification products at Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says the electronics that Pierce uses to control it

The Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Working Group (ARFFWG) hosted its second ARFF Summit April 8-9 at the Indiana Convention Center at FDIC International 2025. 

“We will give fire departments and airports tools to address organizational barriers and have collaborative problem solving amongst ARFF peers,” says Gina Gonzales, ARFFWG board member and ARFF engineer, Loveland (CO) Fire Rescue Authority.

ARFF is a special category of firefighting that involves the response, hazard mitigation, evacuation, and rescue of passengers and crew of an aircraft involved in an emergency, Gonzales says. “Even more so, it involves the intricate relationships between numerous agencies, local, private, and the federal government. This summit will assist fire departments and airports find critical gaps in response and build those relationships.”

The summit was attended by emergency response agencies with the classification of Index A to Index E and category 1-10. There were attendees from North America, The Netherlands, and Saint Lucia, an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. Agencies from Beijing, China, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, signed up for the summit. 

In addition to emergency response departments, the following agencies also attended: National Fire Protection Association, the U.S. military, United Airlines, Ventura County (CA) fleet maintenance, airport management, and a public safety director.

The ARFF Working Group wants to help facilitate its members so that airports have continuity of operations, said Jason Schnase, Battalion Chief, Port of Seattle (WA) Fire Department, and former ARFFWG President. It is important for all airport divisions and fire departments to work together toward a common goal, he said.

When problems and challenges arise, Schnase wanted those in attendance to know, “you are not alone,” he said. “We all have the same issues just on a different scale.”

Here were some of the benefits for those attending the summit:

Address Organizational Barriers
Attendees received tips on effective incident response. Effective incident response relies heavily on strong relationships among all stakeholders. To ensure seamless coordination, it is essential to understand the roles and responsibilities of every organization that may be involved in an aircraft incident. As mandated by FAR Part 139, each certificated airport must have an Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) that outlines specific duties for each responding department. Familiarizing yourself with your airport’s AEP, identifying key players, and building relationships with them beforehand is crucial for efficient incident response.

Collaborative Problem Solving
Airport rescue and firefighting capabilities vary significantly worldwide, with each airport facing unique challenges and opportunities. Despite the rarity of aircraft incidents, they represent the highest potential risk, making safety for pilots and travelers our top priority. This summit provides a dynamic platform for experts to share insights, exchange innovative ideas, and learn from diverse experiences. The summit will address challenges, show how to leverage strengths, and enhance ARFF response to improve safety across the aviation industry.

Network with Peers
The summit gathers leaders in their departments that service, or manage, airports of all sizes from many different countries. That means true interaction among peers. It means everyone is a decision-maker.  The discussions at the summit are focused and there is a good opportunity for networking. 

Connect with Global Fire Protection Experts
At the core of this summit is the ARFFWG, a non-profit member organization that has been championing aviation fire protection and prevention since