Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-24-2026

Abstract

Purpose: This paper explored the business educational skills aviation fire officers use to manage airport fire departments.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The methodology was a qualitative phenomenological study design. The participants began with 10 aviation fire officers from airports throughout the USA who were at least 28 years old, in a leadership role, and had at least 10 years of experience as aviation fire officers (Buttenschon, 2016). Saturation was reached at seven during the interview phase. The limitations of this study were gaining participants' trust and obtaining comprehensive information from them.

Findings: Six themes emerged from this study, with the top three identified: management, finance, and education, which are critical in managing an aviation fire department. The findings indicated that management, finance, and education work together to meet the departmental objectives.

Research Limitations/Implications: The limitations included participants’ adherence to their traditions, experiences, and general knowledge of the subject matter (Sedlmeyer & Dwyer, 2018). Gaining the participants’ trust was hindered by their reluctance to divulge sensitive information from their organizations for fear of reprisal (Sedlmeyer & Dwyer, 2018). The practical implications of this study may improve the management of the fire department’s operational areas, including fiscal matters and the overall management of the department’s goals and objectives. The small sample size derives from the use of the Information Power Concept that uses a narrowed aim, homogenous group, and participants with rich information (Malterud, Siersma, & Guassora (2016).

Practical Implications: Budget reductions are common across industries. Public safety reductions include personnel reductions, pay cuts, facility closures, and service interruptions (Reilly, 2013). Maintaining solvent municipalities is paramount to emergency services. The industry's current demands require business leaders to do more with less to remain solvent. Leading aviation fire departments from a business perspective enhances service by enabling frugal management and addressing the municipality's business challenges (Reilly, 2013). Further research in this area may include financial management, budget shortfalls, changing business environment within the aviation fire protection field, and overall aviation fire protection business practices.

Social Implications: The perception of being viewed as a cost, traditional fire departments and aviation fire departments are under the microscope. By using business skills to improve their departments, aviation fire officers could create an efficient operation, just as in private businesses (Fleming, 2008). Adopting these practices could streamline their current model and create innovative new processes (Zashkiani, Rahmandad, & Jardine, 2011).

Implications for Social Change: This study aimed to invoke social change in the aviation fire protection industry (Fleming, 2010). Changing how aviation fire officers manage their organizations can impact success. Shifting the focus to business may reduce labor costs, grievances, arbitrations, and lawsuits (Fleming, 2008). Cost savings in these areas may redirect funds to critical areas of the organization (Fleming, 2010).

Originality/Value: Identifying business educational skills may allow aviation fire officers to operate their operations efficiently, with fiscal responsibility, and provide adequate resources for emergency operations. Social implications include shifting from a traditional aviation fire officer role to a business-focused role, which may create cost savings for their citizens and save lives.

College/Unit

College of Business

Academic Department

Doctoral Studies

Publication or Event Title

International Journal of Emergency Services

First Page

1

Last Page

12

ISSN

2047-0908

DOI

10.1108/IJES-10-2025-0061

Rights

© Emerald Publishing Limited. This AAM is provided for your own personal use only. It may not be used for resale, reprinting, systematic distribution, emailing, or for any other commercial purpose without the permission of the publisher.

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