USTDA Supports Aviation Emergency Response in the Philippines
November 16, 2015
(USTDA)
MANILA, Philippines – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency today signed a
cooperation agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
(CAAP) to launch a specialized training program for aircraft rescue and
firefighting (ARFF) vehicles that CAAP procured from Oshkosh Corporation. The
program builds upon USTDA’s ongoing cooperation with the Philippines in aviation
security and environmental improvements.
“We are pleased to support this advanced training, which will give CAAP
personnel the skills they need to be able to operate and maintain these
state-of-the-art Oshkosh vehicles,” said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak, who
signed the agreement alongside CAAP Director General Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss
III (ret.). “The Philippines’ growth in aviation presents significant
opportunities for collaboration, and USTDA looks forward to continuing to work
with CAAP and our industry partners to address those opportunities.”
U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Michael Klecheski, attended the signing
and said, “I am delighted to be here to support the USTDA grant with CAAP. I
believe that the training provided to CAAP personnel under this grant will
contribute significantly to the safety and security of airports in the
Philippines.”
This program will support training for CAAP officials on vehicle manufacturing,
maintenance and testing at Oshkosh’s facilities in and around Appleton,
Wisconsin. Oshkosh trainers will also travel to 27 airports across the
Philippines, where they will train ARFF crew at each airport and inform
firefighters on the operations and capabilities of Oshkosh vehicles. The
training will enhance CAAP’s ability to respond to emergency situations.
USTDA and CAAP signed the agreement during the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, a forum that allows industry to collaborate with
APEC economy leaders, ministers and high-level government officials. This grant
builds upon USTDA’s ongoing work with the CAAP to analyze the efficiency and
environmental benefits of implementing Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) and
Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) tools within Philippine airspace. USTDA
plans to share the resulting best practices with all APEC members at a technical
workshop in 2016, which will support the broader region in reaching its aviation
and energy efficiency goals, as well as its emissions reductions goals.
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