Saipan gets FAA nod as site for regional airport fire-fighting facility

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is now awaiting a formal announcement from the Federal Aviation Administration officially designating Saipan as site for the regional training facility for airport rescuers and firefighters, Executive Director Carlos H. Salas disclosed.

“Indications are pointing towards that direction. We are just waiting for an official letter from the FAA formally naming Saipan as site for the regional aircraft rescue and fire-fighting training center,” Mr. Salas told reporters in an interview.

He said the United States Department of Transportation office in Honolulu has already pledged to provide training support once the facility is established in the Northern Marianas.

Plans to put up the regional facility on Saipan came following series of recognition given by FAA to the Commonwealth’s strong and extensive program for preparedness against airport accidents.

Mr. Salas and CPA aircraft rescue and fire-fighting chief Stanley Torres previously received recognition from the FAA and the State of Hawaii Airports Division during the Pacific Aviation Directors’ Workshop in Palau.

FAA especially recognized in beefing up the aviation body’s Western Pacific aircraft rescue and fire-fighting program. CPA has vigorously sponsored workshop for regional participants and allowed Mr. Torres to conduct training seminars in Chuuk, Palau, Kosrae, Yap and Pohnpei.

FAA has been considering Saipan to be home to the regional training center for aircraft rescuers and airport firefighters. Mr. Salas said the proposal had been brought up since early last year.

The proposal to build a regional training facility on the island was conceived by Martinez Jacob, an officer of the Department of Transportation’s aircraft rescue office in the State of Hawaii.

Mr. Jacob, who is in charge of all the airport fire-fighting units in Hawaii, has recommended to the FAA to make Saipan the site for a regional aircraft rescue training facility, which will train firefighters from throughout the Micronesian islands.

The proposed facility will tap the services of local, Hawaii and Guam instructors.
Aircraft rescue personnel from Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshall Islands are expected to come over and participate in the program.

At the same time, Mr. Salas said FAA has made strong comments about how good Saipan’s fire-fighting program is. “If the plan pushes through, we’re going to have fire-fighting pit so we can burn fuel and have the firefighters train on that, like putting out the fire. And also build some classrooms.”

Mr. Salas also said that CPA is expecting to receive grants from the FAA for the program. He explained that funding is necessary to make the facility efficient enough to attract participants from other Pacific islands.