The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) - Great Lakes Chapter (GLC) presented the Rapid City Regional Airport Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Station #8 with its 2017 ARFF Valor Award during the Chapter’s Annual Conference in Grand Forks, ND on Saturday. Rapid City Fire Department Medical Operations Division Chief Jason Culberson was present to receive the award.

The Award of Valor is presented annually by the Great Lakes Chapter of AAAE for outstanding performance in ARFF/safety. The Award was established in 1975 and recognizes an individual or department who has shown exceptional skills in the workplace as demonstrated by acts of professional service and dedication that resulted directly in saving a human life. Nominations for this award are solicited on a national basis and are reviewed by the Chapter’s ARFF committee.

RAP ARFF Station #8 was specifically recognized for actions performed on August 11, 2016, when JetBlue flight #429, an A-320 Airbus from Boston bound for Sacramento, encountered severe turbulence over western South Dakota, causing an emergency landing at Rapid City Regional Airport. RAP ARFF Station #8 firefighters responded and immediately took charge of the situation as other responding units arrived. Injured passengers were evaluated and received medical care according to the severity of their injuries; many with neck and back injuries from the extreme turbulence encountered. A total of 22 passengers and 2 crew members were transported to the Rapid City Regional Hospital that evening for further evaluation and/or treatment. “

This Award of Valor is a great honor, and I’m extremely proud of the Rapid City Fire Department and those firefighters stationed at the airport. They handled the emergency event with extreme professionalism and efficiency," said Patrick Dame, Executive Director of Rapid City Regional Airport.