Why Boston Logan Chose Oshkosh Airport Products for ARFF Response

A Striker 8x8 ARFF for Boston Logan International Airport.

When the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) team was looking to purchase two ARFF vehicles for Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), the goal wasn’t simply to add new units to the fleet—it was to continue building a more standardized fleet.

“Our firefighters support three airports,” said Deputy Fire Chief of Planning Michael Beeley. “So having an ARFF fleet that’s completely standardized across all airports takes away the worry of having to continually familiarize and train our crews on different truck platforms.”

This focus on ARFF vehicle consistency played a major role in Massport’s decision-making process on this new purchase, but it wasn’t the only factor. In this case study, we take a closer look at why Massport continues to choose Oshkosh’s Striker® 8x8 ARFF vehicle and how this decision supports a more unified, response-ready fleet.

Supporting Three Airports with One Unified Mission

The Massport Fire Rescue team operates across three airports: Boston Logan International Airport, Worcester Regional Airport and Hanscom Field. As the primary hub, Boston Logan anchors the operation, while the additions of Worcester Regional Airport in 2016 and Hanscom Field in 2020 have expanded both the scale and complexity of the department’s responsibilities.

Today, the department includes 170 firefighters across the three airports, with a fleet of nine ARFF vehicles strategically positioned to meet the needs of each location.

“Aircraft rescue firefighting is all about preparedness—being ready when the time comes,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “You’re not responding to the same volume of calls as municipal departments, so readiness is critical. That’s why consistency in our equipment matters. When a call comes in, our firefighters know exactly how to operate every one of our trucks. Having to transition from one ARFF build to another isn’t something we want to worry about.”

Why Massport Chose Oshkosh Airport Products

Water capacity was one of the biggest reasons why Massport decided to go with Oshkosh Airport Products.

“We needed the 4,500-gallon trucks because we have challenges with water supply out on the airfield at Boston Logan,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “There are areas where there are no hydrants, and getting a water supply could mean laying out 5,000 to 6,000 feet of hose. Having that additional onboard capacity was a big factor for us.”

According to Beeley, that extra water capacity gives Massport crews more time, more flexibility and greater control in the critical early moments of a response, especially in areas where external water sources are limited or delayed.

“The decision was really that simple—Oshkosh has the bigger water tank,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “We already had multiple 4,500-gallon Oshkosh Striker units, so this new purchase was an investment in a platform and tank size we know works for our needs.”

A Striker 8x8 ARFF for Boston Logan International Airport. The units are packed with defining features, including one equipped with a 65’ Snozzle® High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET). Additional features of the two new Striker 8x8 ARFF vehicles at Boston Logan include:

Low attack bumper turret (625/1,250 gpm) and roof turret (625/1,250 gpm)
Oshkosh® Eco EFP™ Foam System
FLIR M-Series camera, rear and forward video and digital recording capabilities for enhanced situational awareness
Advanced lighting package featuring perimeter and warning lights, rigid work lights and reflective diamond-grade chevrons for maximum visibility

“All these features were non-negotiable in our design,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “We’ve trusted these features to work on all our Strikers in the past, and we trust them to perform on these two new deliveries. Aircraft rescue is all about reliability, trusting the equipment will work when you need it.”

A Long-Time, Trusted Partnership with Oshkosh

Having worked with Oshkosh Airport Products on previous ARFF purchases, Deputy Chief Beeley and his team were already familiar with both the chassis platform and the sales process, making this latest purchase smooth from start to finish.

“Rather than starting from scratch, we built on our previous Striker 8x8 ARFF truck designs,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “The entire process, from design to manufacturing to delivery, was simple and efficient. The communication from the Oshkosh team was great during the entire process.”

Reliable Maintenance and Local Aftermarket Support

The interior of a Striker 8x8 ARFF for Boston Logan International Airport. Ongoing maintenance and support also play an important role in why Massport keeps going back to Oshkosh Airport Products.

Through Oshkosh’s partnership with Allegiance Fire and Rescue, New England’s Pierce Dealer, Massport has access to local aftermarket support. Located close to Boston Logan, Allegiance provides rapid, reliable maintenance services when issues arise.

“Having Allegiance nearby has been a huge advantage for us,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “When something comes up that our in-house maintenance team can’t handle, we’re able to get it addressed quickly.”

This local aftermarket support has been a game changer when it comes to peace of mind that all of Massport’s ARFF vehicles are ready to perform when needed, according to Beeley.

Connect with your local Oshkosh Airport Products ARFF Dealer.

Striker 8x8 ARFF Vehicles in Action and Ready for More

Both Striker 8x8 ARFF vehicles have been delivered to Boston Logan, bringing the airport’s total to five Striker units. The Massport team has been pleased with both the vehicles and their overall experience working with Oshkosh.

“The vehicles are exactly what we were looking for,” said Deputy Chief Beeley. “We’re confident in the platform and look forward to continuing to work with Oshkosh.”

To learn more about Oshkosh Airport Products and how we support the next generation of ARFF response, visit https://www.oshkoshairport.com/.

Interested in learning more? Take a look at these resources:

About Oshkosh Airport Products

Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business (NYSE:OSK), is a designer and builder of industry-leading airport firefighting vehicles. Its flagship Striker^® Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles are known for their durability and premium performance and are sold throughout the world. For more information, visit www.oshkoshairport.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation

At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, purpose-built vehicles and equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs over 18,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common purpose: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Pierce®, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh® S-Series™, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™ Communications, Oshkosh® Airport Products, Oshkosh AeroTech™, Oshkosh® Defense and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.

®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward Looking Statements

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