FIFTY-FIVE Jamaican firefighters have completed live burn training under a Sister Airport Agreement with the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States of America.

The training, which ended on last Thursday, provided firefighters with instruction in hands-on, live fire-fighting experience.

This was noted by director of international business, Department of Aviation, Hartsfield-Jackson International, Alrene Richards-Barr, who said the entity would be offering other training opportunities for aviation industry personnel.

She was speaking at a banquet and aviation awards ceremony held at Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on December 7.

“Early next year, we are on tap to establish working groups to further our collaboration and the offer is on the table for the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) to send two to four technical airport professionals for our Inter-Airport Internship Programme. This programme runs for approximately four to six weeks,” she said.

The Government and Hartsfield-Jackson International signed the cooperation agreement on February 9, 2017.

Under the memorandum of understanding, airports in Jamaica and Hartsfield-Jackson International exchange ideas and information pertaining to cargo, passenger and traffic development.

The agreement includes capacity building in aviation through training and talent development, as well as technical and managerial support.

Richards-Barr noted that since the inception of its sister airport initiative two years ago, the entity has signed agreements with the Governments of Cote-d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), El Salvador, Israel, Liberia, and Jamaica.

She noted that Jamaica “has been the most successful and aggressive of the group”.

For his part, Minister of Transport and Mining Mike Henry said the successes realised have been due, in part, to the substantial investments the Government has been making in the country’s aviation facilities.

“All agencies that work together in the industry continue to work tirelessly for the improvement of already high aviation standards [in Jamaica],” he said.

In the meantime, the minister praised the individuals, including Richards-Barr, who were recognised during the event for the invaluable contributions they have made to the aviation industry in Jamaica.

The other individuals recognised were Carl Barnett, who was one of the original flyers in Jamaica, and a trainer of pilots; and Lt Col Victor Beek (posthumously), who served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II and was head of the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force.

The event was hosted by the AAJ, Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority and Aeronautical Telecommunications Limited, in commemoration of International Civil Aviation Day.

International Civil Aviation Day commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization as an international body which develops, promulgates and harmonises the standards and recommended practices for the safe, efficient and sustainable operation and development of the global air transport industry.

— JIS