30 Iraqi firefighters from the Baghdad International Airport Complete Training Course

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/ .