This week I visited the largest air show in England. The Farnborough Air Show is held every other year, alternating with the Paris Air Show, and it attracts some 250,000 military members, aviation professionals and enthusiasts who want a look at current and future innovations.

One such innovation is the 600-passenger AirBus A380. Currently only a handful of airports can handle loading and unloading the aircraft. But as I watched it circle above the field, I couldn’t help but think about the magnitude of a potential disaster with a plane this large.

After watching the planes, I did what comes natural for me: I wandered over to a couple fire trucks parked outside the exhibit halls.

The Hampshire Fire & Rescue Services provides emergency services for the Farnborough show. In case of an emergency, the Hampshire fire brigade is responsibile for the exhibition area and the airport‘s own emergency service is responsible for the Category 10 airfield, according Hampshire Fire Safety Engineer Phil Yarney.

“We don‘t attend calls outside the fence line,” said Yarney, an 18-year veteran of the fire brigade.

Hampshire adds only four reserve fire trucks and staff, including two small brush trucks, to cover the show. They also have a couple ambulances on standby, including a new, silver paramedic BMW. Fortunately calls aren‘t that frequent once the show opens.

“The previous week is all about inspecting the site, the electrical capabilities and to keep the risk and management down during construction weeks before the show begins,” said Yarney. “Because of the sensitivities of the area, it‘s a low-risk and low-volume event for us.”

One thing that impressed me at the show was its focus on environmently friendly airplanes. Displays for reduced emissions, fuel savings and lighter-weight plane bodies covered the exhibit halls.

How long until the emergency service industry starts to look at alternative fuel sources and lighter, more durable materials? How long until it accepts products that don’t affect food supply or the environment and that make use of recyclable materials? My money says these products already are in the works, and the fire and emergency services should be ready to embrace them.

Another item that caught my eye was a dual-helmet system. The design has an adjustable headband and retractable goggles for all Level-1 operations except for building-entry firefighting. A protective shell for firefighting fits over the top of the rescue helmet and is fitted with a retractable face shield and ear protection. Unfortunately, NFPA standards restrict the use of this particular helmet in the United States, according to one of the sales reps.

Aviation virtual-training software was another highlight at the show. American defense company Raytheon demonstrated its unmanned aerial vehicles with technology based on X-Box and Nintendo games. The company hired game developers to create virtual cockpits that use joysticks and control pads. Raytheon representatives said the gaming techniques are much quicker than traditional keyboards.

I‘ve seen several really good examples of similar technology here in the United States. High Voltage Software Systems devloped a state-of-the-art training program for incident commanders that challenges critical decision-making skills. Compelling Technologies also developed an incident command training system for company officers.

And UAVs already are making an impact here in the United States. In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger credited an unmanned NASA aircraft with helping save a town from wildfire, calling the plane “one of the most exciting new weapons in our firefighting arsenal.”

The plane, an adaption of the Predator military drone, can stay in the air for more than 20 hours. It uses an infrared imagery system to identify hot spots and transmit that information.

The air show reminded me that Interschutz 2010 is on the horizon. Interschutz is the largest fire and emergency show in the world, bringing together the global fire service once every five years.

Imagine the possibilities and save your pennies!