Dundee Airport has become the first in Scotland to introduce a life saving muddy water rescue service.
The £100,000 kit will allow firefighters to perform rescues in the deep mud flats close to the runway.
It includes winches, sleds, a specialist 8-wheeled Argocat vehicle with trailer, pioneer boat, and mud boots to allow fire fighters to walk on quicksand and soft mud.
The new rescue equipment is part of a major investment by airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) to boost its fire fighting and emergency response capability at Dundee Airport.
Dundee Airport is the busiest in the HIAL group in terms of aircraft movements. In the past year, it handled almost 40,000 flights compared to 33,000 at Inverness, the busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers.
George Farquhar, chief fire officer for HIAL, said: "We are proud of the important role that our firefighters play in ensuring the safety of passengers at Dundee Airport. The shoreline of the Tay is difficult terrain for emergency responders and only our firefighters have the capability to perform vital rescue services in this area. This investment will undoubtedly help save lives in the event of an emergency."
Derrick Lang, airport manager at Dundee Airport and a former airport firefighter, welcomed the investment in the new mud water rescue service, and HIAL's new approach to training.
He said: "As a former firefighter, I know that this investment in equipment and staff will considerably enhance our emergency response capability at Dundee Airport. The safety of passengers is our number one priority and we facilitate thousands of flights every year without incident. However, while we all hope that this specialist equipment will never be required, it is essential that we are prepared for any eventuality."
He added: "We are delighted that our latest recruit is one of only a handful across the group taking part in HIAL's groundbreaking fire training programme. This new approach will ensure we deliver training better tailored to the diverse locations in which our fire fighters operate."
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