USTDA Supports Aviation Emergency Response in the Philippines

(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.