FAAC Commercial News

Overall, firefighters in the U.S. fight roughly one-half to one-third as many fires as they did 50 years ago. On-the-job experience is the ultimate test of skills learned in academy, and fewer fires mean fewer chances for first responders to practice. Meanwhile, firefighting has become more complex. The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) on the … Continued

According to CALSTART’s annual report on zero-emission buses there are now at least 5,480 full-size ZEBs (zero-emission buses) in the United States, a 66 percent increase since 2021. That includes a 75 percent increase in fuel-cell electric buses in 2023 alone (according to an analysis by Hydrogen Central)—excellent news for the many communities enjoying lower-emission … Continued

Bill Martin, FAAC Public Safety Business Manager, is excited to share new developments in high-fidelity, simulation-based fire service training,  (especially for pump operations) at FDIC International this April. “There are some new features with inCommand and Pump-Ops,” Bill notes. “We’ve gone to an updated platform, and incorporated many improvements behind the scenes and under the hood, so to speak, giving us better … Continued

The Department of Transportation is going all in on a zero-emission/low-emission future for mass transit. Hence, funding opportunities have been significantly expanded, like the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Grant Program for buses and bus facilities. But FTA also acknowledges that the transition to low or no emission buses might be a … Continued

What decisions will a first responder make behind the wheel when responding to a “baby not breathing” or “Mayday” call? It’s already a big ask, expecting anyone to make safe, split-second decisions when stakes and adrenaline are high. Factor in variables like weather, traffic, road conditions, and apparatus operation, and the job is even tougher. … Continued

As we’ve discussed in the past, one key to the effectiveness of public transport simulation training is “presence“—i.e., the trainee’s convincing subjective experience of being in an actual vehicle. As Rob Raheb (an internationally published author and expert in simulation and driver training) has noted: “The more realistic the simulation is, the more ‘buy-in’ from … Continued

Few derailments rise to the level of what happened in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023. That said, train derailments themselves are quite common in the United States. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. averages more than three derailments per day. There were a total of 1,164 derailments in 2022—which is actually an … Continued

Staff retention problems continue to grow for almost every transit agency in the United States and Canada. According to the latest report from the American Public Transportation Association, more than 90% of all agencies surveyed faced transit operator shortages. And 84% of those agencies reported that staffing shortages were preventing them from providing full service. … Continued

FAAC is looking forward to attending the Fire Department International Conference this year (April 27-29, 2023, Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN) and introducing new developments in high-fidelity simulation-based fire service training, especially for pump operations. FDIC International is North America’s Leading Firefighter Conference and the world’s largest fire service event. It … Continued

The federal government is going all-in on a battery-powered future for mass transit—but transit agencies themselves aren’t so sure. Last year Vice President Harris announced a collection of new federal initiatives to cut carbon emissions from buses and trucks. These initiatives include “$1.1 billion in new funding to help cities and states purchase electric buses … Continued