The high reach extendable turret, also known as the HRET in the firefighting industry, provides ARFF firefighters with countless benefits to enhance any aircraft rescue and emergency response experience on the runway.  

With our proprietary Oshkosh^® Snozzle^® HRET, Oshkosh Airport Products is aware of the advantages of an HRET on aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles, and we wanted to share the top four with you.

Keep reading to find out why we believe the HRET is a game changer on any ARFF unit.

1. The HRET Can Pierce an Aircraft Fuselage

During an emergency response situation, there are two main types of aircrafts you will come in contact with — a passenger plane or a cargo plane. The HRET's piercing nozzle offers advantages for both types of planes.

Passenger Aircraft: A high reach extendable turret has the ability to pierce a passenger aircraft fuselage and spray suppressing agent to knock down the fire and lower the interior temperature to reduce the risk of a flashover. Flashpoints are a huge threat, especially for the first entry responder. Using an HRET significantly reduces this risk prior to first entry.

Cargo Aircraft: Having a penetrating nozzle or tip extension, such as the one which can be added to the Snozzle, allows you to reach the source of the fire in a cargo container, penetrate the fuselage and continue to infiltrate the cargo container and discharge agent.

An HRET for ARFF vehicles also allows airport rescue firefighters to pierce a wide array of materials encountered on or in an aircraft, including new materials such as carbon fiber laminates. For example, proportional hydraulic control for the hydraulic cylinder on the Snozzle allows firefighters to pierce through the aforementioned modern aircraft materials easily.

Looking for an in-depth look at the Oshkosh Snozzle HRET? Read this blog post.

2. The HRET Can Distribute Water and Secondary Agents in Places Where You Normally Couldn’t

While trying to put out a fire, sometimes areas on an aircraft are unreachable due to pesky angles. A high reach extendable turret allows you to accurately and easily put water and secondary agents onto fires from angles otherwise impossible or difficult. This advantage of the HRET can help firefighters attack a fire from both a high attack and a low attack position.

High Attack: Positioning an HRET in the high attack position allows you to discharge from a safe standoff distance away from the fire. Instead of discharging a water stream upwards at the fire, you can raise the HRET to discharge water at the same level.

Low Attack: An HRET deployed in the low attack position can easily reach and extinguish common landing gear fires. The HRET can stretch below the height of the vehicle in order to spray water or secondary agents up into the engine or another area on the bottom of an aircraft.

Another advantage of an HRET is its ability to be repositioned without moving the ARFF vehicle. This range of motion allows aircraft rescue firefighters to attack any aircraft fire from multiple angles quickly and effectively.

3. The HRET Helps Preserve Fire Extinguishing Agent

Firefighters can strategically position the HRET to target specific areas of the aircraft, allowing for a more focused and efficient application of fire extinguishing agents. This precision control and strategic application eliminates “raindrop” application from occurring, which is when overspray from wind occurs and results in wasted agent.

Learn more about ARFF vehicle turrets and fire-suppressing components in this blog post.

4. The HRET Improves Aircraft Rescue Firefighter Safety

Safety is always the number one concern when responding to an emergency on the runways. Multiple factors can affect the protection of yourself or a comrade. An HRET for ARFF vehicles allows firefighters to maintain a safer distance from potential hazards and improves visibility. Rather than going into an aircraft or structure, first entry can be accomplished with the ARFF vehicle’s HRET.

An HRET can be equipped with optional forward looking infrared (FLIR) and color camera attachments, allowing you to look inside and assess the situation. You can also immediately begin discharging water, foam or chemical agents. These camera features can be lifesaving if the emergency situation is not what you had initially assessed or if something unexpected happens.

At Oshkosh Airport Products, we are always finding innovative ways to enhance the key features of our ARFF vehicles. The Oshkosh Snozzle HRET is designed to arm aircraft firefighters against the greatest fire threats on the runways. This powerful firefighting tool allows firefighters to attack from every angle, all while never having to leave the ARFF vehicle cab.

Want to learn more about the Oshkosh Snozzle HRET? Contact us today.