National air navigation firefighting service recruits for Hedland and Karratha airports

After more than a decade in aviation rescue firefighting, Hayden West has found a long-term career that combines his passion for safety with helping others.

Mr West made the career switch 13 years ago with Airservices Australia, the national air navigation service provider. And now he’s asking others to consider joining up in Hedland or Karratha.

“I always had a passion for helping others,” he said. “During my apprenticeship, I got involved in safety committees and developed a strong interest in workplace safety.”

Since then, Mr West has been stationed across the country, including Mackay, Canberra, Gladstone and the Sunshine Coast.

While emergency response is a core part of the job, Mr West said sometimes it was the intriguing situations that stuck with him.

“Investigating strange smells in hangers . . . that was one that stuck with me for a while, in addition to helping people that have fallen down at the airport,” he said.

“It’s not always a big, full scale emergency. That’s certainly what we train for every day on shift, we train for those sort of scenarios.

“But a lot of it is you will see us behind the scenes, overseeing flights taking off, being prepared if something goes awry.”

Airservices Australia operates the only national aviation fire service in the country, with Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting services at 27 of Australia’s busiest airports.

The organisation is now recruiting ARFF firefighters for Karratha and Port Hedland.

“It’s a great option for anyone wanting to get off the tools and try something new,” Mr West said. “You learn a whole new skill set and for me, it’s become a career, not just a job.”

For more information visit careers.airservicesaustralia.com