An aerial device is a mechanical device that is generally used for a broad range of different temporary, flexible applications by building companies, technical relief organizations, armed forces and public as well as corporate firefighters amongst others. They are widely used in any European member state. Although the construction of aerial devices is already heavily regulated with corresponding European standards and norms, aerial devices for firefighters have to comply with further specifications: • Firstly, aerial devices for firefighters are highly customized products, reflecting local or regional conditions. Therefore, they are usually the most expensive device in the fleet of vehicles for firefighting (the cost for one aerial device alone amounting to around 700,000 to 1,000,000 EUR – most of which is funded by the taxpayer). • Secondly, aerial devices for firefighters are the most complex technical devices in firefighting; its range of application is extremely broad and will increase even further with the growing urbanization across Europe. • Thirdly, aerial devices for firefighters are designed to protect the affected people and firefighters in state of emergencies, under substantial time constraints and in situations with unknown or unforeseen variables. These specifications can only be acknowledged by clear and transparent vocational instructions that are educated and trained in a comprehensible manner (#3). The instructions/ the training has to be adapted to local or regional conditions for the use of these complex devices on the one hand (#1). On the other hand, it should set a comparable standard for a cross-national application at European level (#2). This can be ensured by a European vocational education and training scheme for the use of aerial devices (EUROFFAD) – a standard that is currently missing at European as well as at national level and that should be the starting point for further European integration in vocational training and education of firefighting. The vocational education and training objective of this three-year programm will be that –starting from the commander in chief across all operating units – all important actions relating to the use of aerial devices are summarized in a logical order and therefore aiding to minimize the stress-levels of crews and victims during incidents. The scheme will be further developed to allow vocational training and education of trainers and comply with the ECVET-standard. It shall be applicable and adaptable to all manufacturers in use and independent of the year of manufacturing.