The Bermuda Fire Service will take over crash, fire, and rescue services from the contractor chosen to run the Airport, says Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons.

"Within the first year, there will be quite a significant transfer of responsibilities,'' to the Fire Service, Sen. Gibbons told The Royal Gazette before resigning from the Senate and Cabinet yesterday to contest the Paget East by-election for the United Bermuda Party.

"They've been involved all the way along, but they're not in a position right now to take it over, either from a manning or an experience standpoint.'' There would be a "phased transfer'' to the Bermuda Fire Service from the company that won the five-year contract to run the Airport, he said.

The US Navy, which runs air operations at the Civil Air Terminal, is quitting Bermuda in September of 1995. The Government of Bermuda must take over effective June 1.

Crash, fire, and rescue is one of four "areas of operation'' at the Airport.

The other three -- air traffic control, weather and aeronautical information, and ground electronic maintenance -- are expected to remain in the hands of the contractor, who will be required to Bermudianise as many jobs as possible.

Mr. Ed Montgomery, president for Canada of UK-based Serco Aviation Services Inc., said that crash, fire, and rescue was the only one of the four areas "where there is even indirect experience on the Island.'' While the Bermuda Fire Service did not have direct experience with Airport firefighting, it had experience with structural fires, and "to switch from one to the other is not a particularly challenging task,'' he said.

However, it did involve specialised training, Sen. Gibbons said.

Four small fire trucks would likely be used at the Airport, he said. Chief Reg Rawlins of Bermuda Fire Service could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Serco, which purchased Thompson-Hickling Aviation Inc. of Canada about five weeks ago, recently completed a transition plan intended to provide for a "seamless'' takeover of the Airport by Government.

Government hired THA for just under $100,000 in March, also asking the company to prepare a survey and assessment of Airport equipment and a "concept of operations'' for the Airport.

The transition plan identified 110 major "steps'' that must be taken before June 1, with many of those dependent on smaller steps also outlined in the report.

"Nobody can think of everything in a complex situation like this,'' Mr.

Montgomery cautioned. "The transition plan is as good as the day it is written. It's like hitting a moving target.'' He expected the plan would be "updated on a daily basis''.

THA's work was finished on time and "probably within budget'', Sen. Gibbons said.

Government expected to go out to tender in mid-July and have a finalist selected by mid-October, Sen. Gibbons said. Fewer than a dozen companies would be invited to bid.

In order to take over on June 1, Government wanted the new employees working beside the Navy months earlier. "Half a dozen advance people will be on the ground by the end of the year, maybe as early as November,'' Sen.

Gibbons said. It was expected up to 70 employees would be involved in air operations once Bermuda took over.

The Airport contract could cost Government between $25 million and $50 million over five years, Sen. Gibbons has said. Government is also facing capital costs related to the Airport which are not yet counted.

Mr. Montgomery said Serco had not decided if it would bid on the Airport contract if invited to do so.

Within weeks, Government would advertise a contract to replace the "ancient'' weather radar at the Airport with a modern instrument that would also measure wind shear, Sen. Gibbons said.

Contractors would also soon be asked to bid on consolidating air traffic control and air traffic navigation systems within the control tower -- a move that would enhance safety and efficiency while reducing required manpower, Sen. Gibbons said.

Fire Service take over rescue services Weather and aeronautical information services would also be consolidated within the terminal building, allowing pilots to file flight plans and receive face-to-face weather briefings. The weather office is now located "halfway down the runway.'' Much of the ground electronic equipment was being removed or replaced, Mr.

Montgomery said. Some was military and not needed, some was too labour-intensive, and some corroded by humidity and salt.

Government recently hired two experts from Airways Corporation of New Zealand Ltd. to help with the takeover. Mr. Jack Shore is a technical expert, while Mr. Toby Farmer is overseeing the tendering process. Those contracts are to cost about $275,000.

Another Canadian company, Acres International, was to start work soon on an infrastructure assessment at the Airport.