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FAA eyes Saipan as training hub
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Posted on Jun 30 1999
The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing a proposal to establish Saipan as the Aircraft Rescue Training Hub in the Western Pacific region, according to Carlos H. Salas, executive director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
“If this materializes, we hope to get federal funding to help us run the program,” said Salas, adding that the Regional Aircraft Rescue and Training Program will benefit the islands of Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau and even Hawaii.
The proposal for Saipan to become the training ground came from Martinez Jacob of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aircraft Rescue Office in Hawaii.
Once approved, a classroom will be built and instructors from Hawaii and Guam will be invited as resource speakers.
Saipan has earlier hosted a one-week training on the importance of maintaining strict security in all airports which was attended for the first time by airport officials from Pohnpei, Chuuk, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa.
The training included not only the airport employees but airline personnel as well since FAA believes that the maintenance of security is a team effort that must be carried out by all the people concerned.
Personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrived to provide the training for hijacking and bombing incidents. Due to increased activities of terrorist groups, FAA requires civil aviation security personnel to increase alertness by adding patrol in plainclothes throughout the airport.
