On the subject of steps. Does anyone know if any UK Airport Fire Services have steps? A set of steps operated by the Fire Service would be very useful at Heathrow. At least then the necessary equipment is operated by people who are in the business of safety rather than a commercial organisation.
I guess that persuading HAL to buy steps for their Fire Service would be difficult as they would not get much use. Since it would take my company an age to get steps to an aircraft in distress at a remote part of the airfield, perhaps the Fire Service could use their own set to provide a faster response thereby returning the airfield to normal operations more quickly and thus saving HAL money.
Slightly off topic I know. Sorry.
G W-H