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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2004
USAID AND THE CPA ANNOUNCE CERTIFICATION OF
BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FIREFIGHTERS
BAGHDAD, IRAQ – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) announce the completion of a three-week
training course for 30 Iraqi firefighters from the Baghdad International Airport
Fire Department. The firefighters attended the Aviation Rescue and Firefighters
Training course held in Muscat, Oman.
The course was conducted according to International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) standards and attendees received the ICAO airport certification. Over the
past 20 years, only seven of the 86 Iraqi Firefighters have attended a
recognized course, previously given in Lebanon. ICAO airport certification is a
prerequisite for many airline carriers to obtain insurance and will facilitate
the initiation of commercial operations at the airport. Topics covered at the
training included basic fire fighting skills as well as fire prevention and
fighting techniques which are specific to airports and aircrafts.
This training was facilitated by USAID partner Skylink, which provides
logistical and management support at both Baghdad and Basrah International
Airports. On the job training will continue for the firefighters after their
return from Oman. A newly trained firefighter will typically undergo
approximately 1 year of on the job training following the course. In addition to
this course in Oman, Skylink and the United States Air Force have been working
together to train all airport firefighters
USAID’s transportation infrastructure projects support Iraqi and Coalition
Provisional Authority (CPA) priorities in facilitating the movement of
passengers and goods quickly and effectively. To meet these goals USAID is
preparing two international airports -in Baghdad and Basrah - for the resumption
of commercial traffic.
For more information on CPA’s and USAID's reconstruction efforts in Iraq
including photos, please visit
www.cpa-iraq.org and
www.usaid.gov/iraq/.
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