Cambridge Airport wrestles victory as judges split in “Toblerone and Pyramid” debate

Dresden did it! Last week’s anna.aero ‘Arch of Triumph’ winners for the best Fire Truck Water Arch for InterSky’s new route to Zurich: Platoon leader, Bodo Trautmann; First operator Carsten Preussler; Operator, Sebastian Winkler; and Team leader Frank Börner.

This week the airport fire departments of the world seem to have had a big Skype chat and decided to do a special theme for us: Use all sorts of different fire trucks and mixed FTWA styles. The results have been predictable, as have the scores. Surprise!!! Listen, we wrote the rules for this competition so we know what we’re looking for. We want elegant “Leaping Dolphins” — if you want your airport to win this completion take a look at our guide to “How to Win the anna.aero Arch of Triumph.”

Cambridge Airport wins this week having sparked a heated debate in the anna.aero office in which our last remaining pieces of whole furniture where thrown about and broken. We’ve got standing desks now; thanks soooo much Cambridge Airport. Here’s this year’s standing with Munich still well in the lead:.

CityJet Cambridge to Amsterdam 12 May

It’s a Toblerone. Other judges thought it was a “Pyramid.” Divided opinion means Cambridge are this week’s anna.aero ‘Arch of Triumph’ winner.

Judge’s comments: At anna.aero we take our hat off to Cambridge Airport — it seems so little time ago that this great idea of an airport had no scheduled air services at all. But we like curvy, ‘Leaping Dolphin’ arches more than these highly symmetrical shapes more suited to indigestible duty free chocolate sold in 5kg portions. The TV adverts used to have a jingle that went: “Toblerone — it’s out on its own.” And how right it is — out. Give us some dolphins Cambridge.

Marc: 7.1; Paul: 6.2; Ralph: 7.3; Vlad: 7.5.

United Airlines Chicago O’Hare to St. Cloud 6 May

Interesting use of rear-mounted monitor — presumably very handy if you have no time to turn the fire truck around and have to reverse the truck to the scene.

Judge’s comments: There is much speculation among firefighters as to why this style is called ‘Big boy, Little boy’. In this case there’s a very easy technical explanation for this FTWA’s lack of symmetry — use of mixed equipment, including an interesting rear-mounted monitor combined with the right-hand crew’s use of a bumper-mounted monitor — you get great control with these — but alas, less throwing distance.

Marc: 3.3; Paul: 5.0; Ralph: 2.6; Vlad: 2.5.

flynas Jeddah to Manchester 7 May

Whhhhhosh! A refreshing welcome in Manchester; on many levels.

Judge’s comments: This style of FTWA is known as ‘Grand Theft Auto’ because it relies less on the direction of the monitor and more on the style of driving — just check out that late-braking action. Being serious for a minute — what this competition entry clearly illustrates for us is that, when you really need them, the Manchester Airport Fire Service will be there well ahead of ICAO recommended response times.

Marc: 4.6; Paul: 7.0; Ralph: 3.2; Vlad: 4.4.

Turkish Airlines Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen to Brussels 8 May

Too much preparation? The crews in Brussels seemingly crack under pressure and deliver two different styles. Let’s hope there wasn’t a fight in the locker room back at the station.

Judge’s comments: The fine spay here is no accident. It’s called ‘Brussels lace’. The problem is that the crew on the right seem to have missed the pre-arrival briefing and are executing a near-perfect ‘Manekinn Pis’ (anybody who knows the origins of why this style would have such a name should please write in). Not for the first time this week the results are mixed. This is not a free-style competition!!!

Marc: 6.3; Paul: 5.9; Ralph: 6.5; Vlad: 7.0.

Turkish Airlines Istanbul Atatürk to Boston 12 May

We’re interested in any possible suggested names for this mystery arch style.

Judge’s comments: The theme tune to the 1980s hit sitcom “Cheers,” based on a Boston bar, includes the signature line: “Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name.” Well the guys and girls in Boston need to take this arch somewhere and find out what it’s called because we haven’t got a clue. One judge suggested ‘Boston Strangled’, possibly a reference to the use of the truncated aerial monitor, mismatched with the other equipment.

Marc: 4.7; Paul: 4.8; Ralph: 3.5; Vlad: 5.0.