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In the second half of 1999, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) approached the CAA-NL with a problem. As of result of amendments in the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in 2000, B747 landing destinations would have to have a fire extinguishing capacity of at least 18,000 liters of water and preferably even 24.000 liters. Surinam’s main aiport Zanderij had a capacity of only 12,000 liters that could not even be assured due to poor truck maintenance. If the Zanderij Airport did not provide the 18.000 liters fire fighting capacity, KLM had to review the situation in order to decide whether it could continue its flights to Surinam.
Surinam ordered two new fire trucks. Delivery time was seven months. Surinam was unable to find an interim solution. Under the JAA system, the operator (thus KLM) is responsible for the presence of adequate safety measures (including fire fighting capacity) at destinations they fly to. A disadvantage for KLM is that they are the only intercontinental airline flying to Surinam and thus the only major operator to put pressure on the management of Zanderij airport.
Given the historic ties between Surinam and the Netherlands and the importance of the air link for the Surinam community in the Netherlands, The Netherlands’ government lent two fire trucks for this interim period. When the new trucks became operational, the Netherlands’ trucks were shipped back to the Netherlands.
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